This water is also used by people and animals. Rivers contain 0.001 percent of the earth's water. Fresh water lakes contain 0.009 percent of the earth's water. Oceans contain 97.137 percent of the earth's water. Water is evaporated from bodies of water, the soil, and from vegetation.
Plants take up water through their roots and release water vapor through their leaves.
This water vapor forms clouds which can in turn produce precipitation. The atmosphere contains 0.001 percent of the earth's water. Polar ice caps and snow account for 78 percent of the world's fresh water supply. Ice caps and snow contain 2.240 percent of the earth's water. Hewlett, J.D. Principles of Forest Hydrology .