Publisher's Synopsis
Lying just above Earth's lithosphere is its hydrosphere - consisting of all of Earth's surface water, ice, water vapour suspended in the air, and water soaked into the ground. From the lowest to the highest point, Earth's hydrosphere is roughly 20 miles thick - about 1% of Earth's total diameter. Nevertheless, the hydrosphere has a profound impact on the surface of the planet and the processes that go on there, including the ability of Earth to sustain life.