Uncovering the Origins of Earth's Water: The Surprising Role of Hydrogen
Key Ideas
- New research challenges the theory that Earth's water came from asteroids, suggesting it was originally composed of hydrogen-rich material crucial for forming water molecules.
- University of Oxford researchers analyzed an enstatite chondrite meteorite and found evidence of hydrogen sulphide, supporting the idea of native water formation on Earth.
- X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron was key in identifying the unexpected presence of hydrogen in the meteorite.
- The study implies that Earth had enough hydrogen reserves from its early formation to explain its current water abundance, shedding light on the planet's evolution.
Recent research by the University of Oxford has reshaped our understanding of Earth's water origins by uncovering the crucial role of hydrogen in the planet's formation. While the prevailing theory suggested that water on Earth was delivered by asteroids in its early stages, the new findings challenge this notion. Analysing a rare enstatite chondrite meteorite, researchers identified traces of hydrogen sulphide using advanced X-Ray spectroscopy techniques. The discovery of unexpected hydrogen levels within the meteorite, particularly in non-crystalline parts, provided vital evidence supporting the idea that Earth's water is a natural outcome of its composition. This revelation implies that Earth possessed sufficient hydrogen reserves from its inception, negating the need for external sources like asteroids to explain the planet's water content. The study's lead, Tom Barrett, highlighted the significance of the findings and the low probability of the detected hydrogen sulphide originating from terrestrial sources. Co-author James Bryson emphasized the implications of the research for understanding Earth's formation process, suggesting that the planet's composition, resembling that of enstatite chondrites, played a crucial role in its water abundance. Overall, the study contributes valuable insights into the planetary evolution and challenges existing beliefs about the sources of Earth's water.
Topics
Installation
Research Findings
Planetary Formation
Meteorites
X-ray Spectroscopy
Asteroids
Elemental Composition
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