Earth's Frozen Water · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.
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Earth's Frozen Water

Science · Polar Regions · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which of these is moving liquid water rather than part of the cryosphere?

    • Permafrost
    • Floating sea ice
    • Ocean currents

  2. Which term names Earth's frozen parts, including snow, ice sheets, sea ice and frozen ground?

    • The water cycle
    • The cryosphere
    • The atmosphere

  3. Glaciers, ice sheets and permanent snow together store about 69% of Earth's fresh water.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A glacier melts and its water reaches the ocean. Which route could return some of that water to the glacier as snow?

    • Evaporation, cloud formation, then snowfall.
    • Cloud formation, evaporation, then snowfall.
    • Evaporation, snowfall, then cloud formation.

  5. Ice and permanent snow store about 69% of Earth's fresh water. How do all the other freshwater stores together compare?

    • They hold more water than the ice and snow stores.
    • They hold the same amount as the ice and snow stores.
    • They hold less water than the ice and snow stores.

  6. A model uses 200 counters for Earth's fresh water. Of these, 138 represent water stored as ice and permanent snow. How many counters represent all the other freshwater stores?

    Answer: ______________

  7. A glacier on land melts and its water reaches the ocean. Floating sea ice also melts. Which comparison describes their direct effects on sea level?

    • Land ice has little direct effect; floating sea ice raises sea level more.
    • Land ice raises sea level; floating sea ice has little direct effect.
    • Both raise sea level equally because melting creates extra water.

  8. Ben says, "Ground is permafrost whenever it freezes for one night." Which correction matches the definition?

    • Ground must be covered by glacier ice throughout the year.
    • Ground must stay at or below freezing for at least two years.
    • Ground must contain only ice, with no soil or rock mixed in.
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Earth's Frozen Water W1-mt_cMmG8VLbAp-s1

  1. Ocean currents · Ocean currents move liquid water. Sea ice and permafrost belong to Earth's frozen parts.
  2. The cryosphere · The cryosphere includes Earth's frozen parts. The water cycle describes water's movement, and the atmosphere is the air around Earth.
  3. True · About 69 of every 100 parts of Earth's fresh water are stored in glaciers, ice sheets and permanent snow.
  4. Evaporation, cloud formation, then snowfall. · Liquid water can evaporate. Vapour can form clouds as it cools, and snow can then fall from those clouds.
  5. They hold less water than the ice and snow stores. · The other stores hold about 31%, which is less than the 69% stored as ice and permanent snow.
  6. 62 · Subtract the ice-and-snow counters from the total: 200 minus 138 equals 62 counters.
  7. Land ice raises sea level; floating sea ice has little direct effect. · Meltwater from land adds water to the ocean. Floating sea ice already pushes ocean water aside, so its melting has little direct effect on sea level.
  8. Ground must stay at or below freezing for at least two years. · Permafrost stays at or below 0 degrees Celsius for at least two years. One frozen night does not meet that definition.
Worksheet · LightMySky