The early Earth was recognized as a completely “water” world
Scientists from Harvard University in the United States during the study found out what the early Earth looked like. According to them, before the birth of life, our planet was not at all what we know it today, reports AGU Advances.
According to a new analysis of the features of the Earth's mantle, our entire world was once swallowed up by a huge ocean, with very little or no land. According to scientists, “it was an extremely damp space body.” But over time, the amount of water began to decrease. The study showed that the moisture was absorbed by minerals that lie deep inside the mantle.
“We have calculated the storage capacity of water in the Earth's solid mantle as a function of temperature. In ancient times, the mantle could hold less moisture, so its surplus formed huge oceans on the surface, ”the authors specified.
It is believed that a large amount of water in the depths is stored in the form of compounds of hydroxyl groups, consisting of oxygen and hydrogen atoms. Thus, water is contained in two forms of the volcanic mineral olivine: wadsleyite and ringwoodite. Samples of the first mineral can contain up to 3% H2O by weight, the second – about 1%.
Scientists have estimated the degree of “water capacity” of these minerals over a wide range of temperatures. It turned out that with strong heating, they retain less moisture – and the bowels of the young Earth were much warmer than today.
Scientists have calculated that today the “capacity” of the mantle exceeds the volume of surface oceans by 1.86-4.41 times. If in the Archean eon (2.5-4 billion years ago) this moisture was outside, it covered almost the entire surface.
The research results are important not only for understanding the evolution of our planet. They are also important for the quest for extraterrestrial life. Scientific analysis has shown that completely “aquatic” worlds can also be potentially habitable.
Earlier it was reported that the ancient Earth could be similar to Venus. Her atmosphere could be just as toxic.
