THE CRA PERSPECTIVE • EARTH SCIENCE How Much Water Is There on Earth? Can our planet ever run out of water? Exploring Earth's enormous water reserves, the freshwater shortage and the future of humanity. Water is one of the most extraordinary and essential resources on our planet. Our planet is called the Blue Planet for a reason. Approximately 71% of Earth's surface is covered by water. But does that mean we have an unlimited supply of water for human survival? Look at the oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers and countless streams across the world. Water seems almost endless. It falls as rain, flows through rivers, disappears into the ground, freezes into ice and rises into the atmosphere as water vapour. Yet billions of people experience water shortages. Some communities struggle to obtain safe drinking water, groundwater reserves are declining in several regions, and pollution is making important water sour...
When we think of something “burning,” we imagine flames that need oxygen to stay alive. A campfire, stove flame, or candle—all depend on oxygen in the air. But deep inside the Earth, there is no oxygen-rich atmosphere , no flames… Yet the Earth’s mantle remains extremely hot , constantly generating magma (lava underground) and fueling volcanic eruptions. So how does the mantle stay hot without oxygen? Does it “burn”? Is lava the result of fire? Let’s explore the real science behind Earth’s internal heat—an astonishing story billions of years in the making. 🌍 Fire vs. Lava: They Are NOT the Same Thing The first thing to understand is this: 🔥 Fire = Chemical Reaction (needs oxygen) 🌋 Lava = Melted Rock (does NOT need oxygen) Fire is a chemical process where a substance reacts with oxygen. Lava is simply rock that has melted due to intense heat and pressure — no burning, no flames. So the mantle and lava are not burning . They are hot , but not because of fire....