Researchers reveal mystery of the origin of water on Earth

Water covers more than two-thirds of the surface of planet Earth, but its exact origin still remained a mystery. Scientists have for a long time could not figure out whether water was present on the planet during its formation or the water arrived to our planet later, possibly together with comets or meteorites.

Currently, researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa using a modern method of analysis, called an ion microprobe, found that the stones from the Baffin Island, located in Canada, shall indicate that the water is present on our planet since the time of its formation.

The method of ion microprobe allowed researchers led by Dr. Lydia Hallis from NASA Astrobiology Institute of the University of Hawaii to study tiny inclusions of glass in these stones and find within these inclusions even more tiny amounts of water. Defined for this water ratio of hydrogen to deuterium, scientists were able to pinpoint that the water has a terrestrial origin. The hydrogen / deuterium varies with the different water bodies in the solar system, so the definition of this relationship allows to determine with certainty the origin of the samples of water.