Scientists are beginning to rethink where Earth's water came from

[LogicalFallacy]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/90189180/scientists-are-beginning-to-rethink-where-earths-water-came-from

 

Just wait for the creationists to pour out of the woodwork proclaiming that the bible was right about water above and below, and breaking open the fountains of the deep.

[bornagainathiest]

Very interesting LF.   Thanks!  

 

How Earth got it's water is still area of intense debate in astronomical circles, as this links shows... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30414519

 

However, I tend to agree with the cautionary tone taken by Dr. Conel Alexander.  

Two data points just isn't enough to come to a sensible or significant conclusion.  The bigger your sample, the more likely you are to see what the data means.  For example, this book... https://www.amazon.com/Rare-Earth-Complex-Uncommon-Universe/dp/0387952896 ...was published in 2000, but went to press the year before that.  The problem here was that at that time, just fifty (50) exoplanets had been discovered.  Also the technology and techniques for detecting them was in it's formative stages and, by today's standards, left much to be desired.  

 

In a nutshell, Brownlee and Ward jumped the gun and drew too many conclusions on the basis of too little data.  

As of the beginning of this month we have 3,586 exoplanets in the bag and their characteristics are much better studied and characterized than those from 1999.  From this wealth of data we can draw much more solid conclusions.

 

Thanks,

 

BAA.

 

 

 

 

[☆ pantheory ☆]

The idea that the  Earth started with much internal water is not novel, but how much internal water? If most of the Earth's present surface water came from this source, this is different from past related mainstream hypothesis. Their statement that for nearly all of the Earth's history this water was on the surface, IMO this is wrong. But near the Earth's surface sounds reasonable IMO.

 

This seems like good news for exoplanet buffs. Many of these exoplanets accordingly in time would have had water come to their surface. If the surface is cold and protected from the sun this water could freeze in shadows and remain protected. If the surface is warm, water could evaporate and then rain down again if surface temperatures are not too hot. If the atmosphere is warm and high pressure, there might be little evaporation but much liquid water on the surface, but maybe little fresh water if there is land.