Could an ExoEarth with 70% Land and 30% Water Host Unique Life Forms?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the hypothetical characteristics of an exoearth with a land-to-water ratio of 70% land and 30% water, contrasting it with Earth's 70% water and 30% land. Participants consider various factors such as climate, weather patterns, geological activity, and potential life forms in this unique environment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that this exoearth could have impressive large oceans despite the lower overall water content compared to Earth.
  • There is speculation about how climate, temperature, and weather would differ, with some proposing that the land masses away from coastal areas would likely be extremely arid.
  • One participant proposes that plate tectonics might behave differently, potentially resulting in rare volcanic activity due to the lack of subducted water.
  • Another viewpoint suggests that the planet could experience a wide range of conditions, from wet coastal areas to extremely dry regions reminiscent of Mars.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential for long periods without rainfall in certain areas, leading to dust storms.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the climate and geological characteristics of the exoearth, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about the behavior of plate tectonics and climate dynamics in a significantly altered land-water ratio, which remain unverified and speculative.

Pangaea
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I was wondering about this over the last few days. I`m sure such worlds exist throughout the universe. Earth is ~70% water & ~30% land.

So this hypothetical exoearth is ~70% land & ~30% water. You could just take a globe & reverse the land & oceans. While less than half the amount of water on Earth, that would still be a lot of water. This exoearth would still have impressive large oceans.

What about climate, temperature, weather, organisms & other factors?

And plate tectonics. Would plate tectonics behave on this exoearth like Earth's except in regards to ocean positions as opposed to continental positions?

For example: oceans on this exoearth would come together & be broken apart like continents on Earth. On this exoearth you'd have Panmare followed by Gondwanamare & Laurasiaoceanus, then by today 6 large oceans corresponding to the positions of Earth's continents.

It would be an interesting world.
 
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The land masses away from coastal areas would likely be extremely arid. Plate techtonics would probable be very different as well. Volcanos would likely be relatively rare without subducted water to soften up the rocks below. All in all, such a planet would probably have a more stable, predictable climate and fresh water would probably be at a premium.
 


The world would be Dunish, I guess.
 


Seems an exoearth with an ocean & land ratio opposite of Earth's would vary from very wet rainsoaked areas along the coasts & other conditions generally identical to Earth to almost Marslike conditions in areas far from any oceans or large lakes.

There'd probably be large areas which would go for years & years, possibly even a century, with no rainfall at all. Or any precipitation. Such areas would probably have gigantic dust storms intermittently.
 

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