hydrosphere

hy·dro·sphere  (hdr-sfîr)

n.

1. The waters of the earth's surface as distinguished from those of the lithosphere and the atmosphere.

2. The water vapor in the earth's atmosphere.

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hydro·spheric (-sfîrk, -sfr-) adj.

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hydrosphere [ˈhaɪdrəˌsfɪə]

n

(Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) the watery part of the earth's surface, including oceans, lakes, water vapour in the atmosphere, etc.

hydrospheric  adj

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hydrosphere  (hdr-sfîr)

All of the Earth's water, including surface water (water in oceans, lakes, and rivers), groundwater (water in soil and beneath the Earth's surface), snowcover, ice, and water in the atmosphere, including water vapor. Compare asthenosphereatmospherelithosphere

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

hydrosphere - the watery layer of the earth's surface; includes water vapor layer - a relatively thin sheetlike expanse or region lying over or under another body of water, water - the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean); "they invaded our territorial waters"; "they were sitting by the water's edge" earth, globe, world - the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on; "the Earth moves around the sun"; "he sailed around the world" briny, main - any very large body of (salt) water ocean - a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere sea - a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land