Video Transcript
Which of the following resulted in
the formation of the hydrosphere? (A) The movement of tectonic
plates, (B) the movement of groundwater, (C) the occurrence of earthquakes, (D) the
occurrence of high temperatures, (E) the eruption of ancient volcanoes.
The hydrosphere is the component of
Earth that includes all the water that exists on the planet’s surface, in the
ground, and in the air. So the hydrosphere includes water
in oceans, seas, and lakes as well as groundwater and water in the atmosphere. The hydrosphere formed
approximately 4.5 billion years ago around the same time as the atmosphere.
When the planet formed, there were
high levels of volcanic activity, which expelled a huge amount of water vapor into
the air. Additionally, some minerals within
the deeper layers of earth contained water. As Earth cooled, the water vapor in
the atmosphere condensed and fell as rain. These cooler conditions meant that
when water reached the surface, it would not evaporate instantly and could
accumulate. These cooler conditions also meant
that water released by minerals in the crust could accumulate on the surface as
well. This marked the formation of the
early hydrosphere. Over time, water began to collect
in large basins forming oceans and seas.
So, in conclusion, the eruption of
ancient volcanoes resulted in the formation of the hydrosphere.
