Here's the breakdown:
* The vast majority of Earth's water is in the oceans, which are on the surface. This makes up about 96.5% of all water on Earth.
* A significant amount of water is also found in glaciers and ice caps. These are also on the surface.
* Underground water, called groundwater, exists within porous rocks and soil. This is a significant source of freshwater and is found relatively close to the surface.
* There is evidence of water in the Earth's mantle, which is below the crust. However, it's not water as we know it; it's chemically bound within minerals. This is a much smaller amount than the water on the surface and groundwater.
Therefore, while some water exists deep below the crust, the vast majority of Earth's water is on the surface.
