Where does the earth's water originally come from?

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In summary, the origin of Earth's water is still uncertain, but it is believed that some of it was present when the Earth was formed and locked into rocks as hydrates. The rest may have come from comets and other ice particles that have bombarded the Earth. The majority of hydrogen was created shortly after the Big Bang, while oxygen is a product of stellar fusion and is constantly being re-injected into the interstellar medium. The initial problem was that the temperature was too high for water vapor to be retained in the primordial atmosphere. However, it is possible that the water arrived later through impactors once the Earth had cooled down enough.
  • #1
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Where does the Earth's water originally come from? Any idea?

They said that:

Some of it was here when the Earth was made (but locked into the rocks as hydrates ... much of that released as the Earth became molten.)
And some came from comets and other ice particles that have bombarded the Earth since it was formed.
No one knows which part was the major contributor.

I still don't get it. Where does it really come from?:confused:
 
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  • #2
It depends on what you mean by "originally", I'd think. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen, as everyone knows. The vast majority of hydrogen was created shortly after the Big Bang. Oxygen is one of the main products of stellar fusion, and is being re-injected into the interstellar medium by means of supernova explosions. The material making up a protoplanetary disk is, in turn, taken directly from the interstellar medium. So there was no shortage of water in the stuff the Earth was assembled from.

The initial problem, I imagine, was that the temperature was too high for water vapour to be retained in the primordial atmosphere, let alone for it to condensate. Hence, the water that's around today must have either been present in a more permanent form early on (that would be the hydrates in the passage you quoted) or arrived later, once things have cooled down sufficiently (that would be the impactors).

Does that help?
 
  • #3
onomatomanic said:
Does that help?

Yes, absolutely! :smile: Thank you very much onomatomanic! :wink:
 

1. What is the origin of the earth's water?

The earth's water is believed to have originated from two main sources: volcanic outgassing and comets/asteroids. During the formation of the Earth, water vapor was released from the planet's interior through volcanic eruptions. Additionally, it is theorized that comets and asteroids carrying ice and water crashed into the Earth, contributing to the water on the planet's surface.

2. How much of the Earth's water is freshwater?

Out of all the water on Earth, only about 2.5% is freshwater. The majority of this freshwater is found in glaciers and ice caps, while only a small percentage is found in lakes, rivers, and groundwater.

3. Is the amount of water on Earth constant?

Yes, the amount of water on Earth is relatively constant. Water can change forms (such as liquid to gas or solid) and move around the planet, but the total amount of water remains the same. This is known as the water cycle.

4. Has there always been water on Earth?

It is believed that there has been water on Earth since the planet was formed. However, the amount and distribution of water has changed over time. For example, during the early stages of Earth's formation, the planet's surface was too hot for water to exist in liquid form. As the Earth cooled, water vapor was released from the planet's interior and eventually condensed into liquid form, leading to the formation of oceans and other bodies of water.

5. Can water be found on other planets?

Yes, water has been found on other planets and moons in our solar system. For example, Mars has evidence of past water on its surface, and Jupiter's moon Europa is believed to have a subsurface ocean. Scientists are also constantly searching for water on other planets and moons in our galaxy and beyond.

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