Synonyms
Definition
The origin of the Earth’s water is one of the most important questions in determining the prerequisites for a habitable planet. Calculations of the temperature of protoplanetary material at the Earth’s orbital radius have suggested that the Earth’s original water content may have been very low. The primitive Earth may therefore have needed a mechanism to deliver water-rich material from the outer solar system. Current theory suggests that contributions from inward-scattered water-rich asteroids during formation could provide the necessary water, but other models for water delivery cannot be currently ruled out.
Overview
Hydrogen and oxygen forming water molecules on the present-day Earth could have been delivered in several different forms during the planetary accretion. Because there is no direct evidence of water delivery to the Earth, the origin of water can only be addressed by indirect approaches. Astrophysical models and observations of extrasolar...
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References and Further Reading
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Yokochi, R., Mandell, A.M. (2014). Water, Delivery to Earth. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1682-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1682-2
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