water budget, global

views updated May 08 2018

water budget, global The amount of water involved in the hydrological cycle each year. Average annual precipitation over the whole globe is about 86 cm, of which 77% falls on the oceans and 23% on land. Evaporation (including transpiration by plants) from the land accounts for 16% of the total precipitation it receives, and 7% of global precipitation returns to the sea as river and groundwater flows.

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY

global water budget

views updated May 08 2018

global water budget See WATER BUDGET, GLOBAL.

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY

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