which of the following statements is false?
a. estuaries are bodies of water that can contain saltwater
b. Of all of Earth's freshwater, only 1.2% is found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams.
c. Only 1.2% of all of Earth's water is found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams.
d. Lakes can be freshwater or saltwater.
b. Of all of Earth's freshwater, only 1.2% is found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams.
The false statement is c. Only 1.2% of all of Earth's water is found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams.
To determine which of the statements is false, we need to analyze each statement one by one.
a. Estuaries are bodies of water that can contain saltwater. This statement is true. Estuaries are areas where freshwater from rivers meets the salty water of the ocean.
b. Of all of Earth's freshwater, only 1.2% is found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams. This statement is true. The majority of Earth's freshwater is stored in glaciers and ice caps, while only a small percentage is found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams.
c. Only 1.2% of all of Earth's water is found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams. This statement is false. It is a repetition of statement b, stating the same fact about the distribution of freshwater. However, this statement incorrectly refers to all of Earth's water instead of just freshwater.
d. Lakes can be freshwater or saltwater. This statement is true. Lakes can indeed be freshwater or saltwater, depending on various factors such as geology, location, and connectivity to the ocean.
Therefore, the false statement is c. Only 1.2% of all of Earth's water is found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams.