On the basis of numerous observations of the Solar System, as well as others, “made at the ALMA radio telescope, of extrasolar debris disks”, the research team, led by an astronomer from the Paris Observatory – PSL within from the Laboratory for Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics, has highlighted “a new potential mechanism for bringing water to Earth, offering a promising perspective compared to previous theories”, we read in a press release from the ‘observatory French.
“Water is an essential element for life on Earth; However, scientists believe that the young Earth lacked them when it formed. Located too close to the Sun, our planet would have been too hot to retain water at its origin. Current theories therefore suggest an influx of water from the outside, occurring during the first 100 million years of terrestrial history,” notes the text, which recalls that until now, the dominant theory assumed that icy bodies, similar to comets, had struck the Earth, bringing water.
However, according to the study, this scenario requires a cosmic “game of billiards”, “where complex dynamic mechanisms send these icy objects towards Earth, at a precise time and in sufficient quantity”.
To say the least “random”, this scenario is questioned as to “its robustness, and its universality across all extrasolar systems”, estimate the researchers who, on the basis of precise data from isotopic measurements carried out in the atmosphere of the Earth, as well as recent observations of asteroids (notably the results of space missions which have come closer to asteroids such as Hayabusa 2 and OSIRIS-REx), propose a new model of the evolution of the belt of asteroids, which “could be set up and then tested on terrestrial data”.
“In addition, observations of extrasolar disks, related to our asteroid belt, were carried out using the ALMA radio telescope, to test the universality of this new water supply mechanism; “this could potentially be successfully applied to a variety of extrasolar systems,” the statement said.
The new study thus proposes “an alternative mechanism, less random and not requiring direct impacts with the Earth”.
“If, as we think today, the asteroids were formed, frozen, in a cold primordial disk, then when this young disk disappeared, the asteroids, warming up, gradually released their ice in the form of vapor. water. This water vapor then formed a new disk mainly composed of water surrounding the asteroid belt and orbiting the Sun,” explains the Paris Observatory.
And added: “under the effect of dynamic forces, this disk of water vapor gradually spread out, eventually reaching the internal planets of the Solar System, including the Earth. When they found themselves in this bath of water vapor, the planets were able to capture part of it, thus contributing to the formation of the oceans.”
This mechanism also makes it possible to explain, according to the same source, the presence of water on other planets in the Solar System. Likely to have a universal scope, “it offers a promising avenue for identifying exoplanets capable of harboring water and, potentially, life,” concludes the French observatory.
