Imran Ahsan Karim-Mirza, MPM, MBA, PhD candidate, Australia
Water, the essence of life, is so fundamental that life as we know it could not have emerged without it. It is the lifeblood of our planet, nurturing every living organism and shaping the very landscapes we inhabit.
Yet, the origins of water on Earth remain one of the most profound enigmas in the story of our planet.
Imagine the Earth 4.5 billion years ago, a newborn world in a chaotic solar system. It was a time of violent collisions and cataclysmic events, where the surface of our planet was a molten, inhospitable landscape.
In such a turbulent environment, it seems almost impossible that water could have persisted, let alone survived the relentless bombardment of asteroids and comets.
The Holy Quran also speaks of the origins of water on earth:
وَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءَۢ بِقَدَرٖ فَأَسۡكَنَّـٰهُ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ۖ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ ذَهَابِۭ بِهِۦ لَقَٰدِرُونَ
“And We sent down water from the sky according to measure, and We caused it to stay in the earth – and surely it is We Who determine its taking away –” (Surah al-Mu’minun, Ch:23: V.19)
At another place in the Quran – from the perspective of humanity’s emergence – the following verse presents the origin of the universe as a closed-up mass that was then opened, strikingly aligning with the Big Bang Theory in a single verse. It then highlights water as a crucial ingredient for life.
أَوَلَمۡ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ كَانَتَا رَتۡقٗا فَفَتَقۡنَٰهُمَا ۖ وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَآءِ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ حَيٍّ ۚ أَفَلَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ
“Do not the disbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were [a] closed-up [mass], then We opened them out? And We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?” (Surah al-Anbiya, Ch.21: V.31)
Furthermore, Allah says:
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ بَشَرًا
“And He it is Who has created man from water […]” (Surah al-Furqan, Ch.25: V.55)
And:
وَنَزَّلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ مُّبَٰرَكٗا فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتٖ وَحَبَّ ٱلۡحَصِيدِ
“And We send down from the sky water which is full of blessings, and We produce therewith gardens and grain harvests,” (Surah Qaf, Ch.50: V.10)
Theories on the origins of water
There are several prevalent theories about how Earth acquired its water, each supported by different pieces of evidence.
One such theory is the Primordial Water hypothesis, which suggests that Earth was born with water. This idea posits that water was present in the materials that formed Earth. Some studies indicate that enstatite chondrites, a type of meteorite, contain enough hydrogen to have delivered significant amounts of water to our planet.
Another theory involves asteroids and comets. This hypothesis posits that water was delivered to Earth by water-rich asteroids and comets that collided with the planet after its formation. This is supported by the isotopic similarities between water found on Earth and that in certain types of meteorites.
The Theia Impact theory suggests that a Mars-sized body named Theia collided with Earth around 4.5 billion years ago, leading to the formation of the Moon. This colossal impact could have also brought water to Earth, contributing to its current abundance.
Some scientists propose the Hydrogen and Magma Interaction theory, which suggests that molecular hydrogen in the early Earth’s atmosphere interacted with magma oceans, forming water in the process. This theory is supported by observations of young exoplanets with similar conditions.
Lastly, the Early Atmosphere Condensation theory suggests that Earth’s early atmosphere was dense with water vapor, which eventually condensed and fell as rain, forming the first oceans.
These theories are not mutually exclusive, and it’s possible that Earth’s water came from multiple sources. Scientists continue to refine their models and gather evidence to better understand this complex process.
Asteroids and other cosmic materials
There is evidence supporting the theory that water was delivered to Earth by asteroids.
The isotopic composition of hydrogen in Earth’s water closely matches that found in certain carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, suggesting that these water-rich asteroids could have been a significant source of Earth’s water.
Studies of asteroid debris, such as those from the asteroid Vesta, have shown that these bodies contain significant amounts of water, supporting the idea that similar asteroids could have delivered water to Earth during its early history.
Observations of white dwarfs, such as SDSS J1242+5226, have detected large quantities of hydrogen and oxygen in their atmospheres. This indicates that water-rich asteroids or comets have impacted these stars, suggesting a similar process could have occurred in our solar system. Laboratory simulations and computer models have shown that water can survive the impact of an asteroid collision, demonstrating that water-rich asteroids could have delivered water to Earth without it all boiling away on impact.
These pieces of evidence collectively support the theory that asteroids played a crucial role in delivering water to Earth, contributing to the formation of our oceans and the conditions necessary for life.
However, there are still gaps in this theory that require further research. For instance, the available data on various asteroids, comets, meteorites and other cosmic materials that have hit Earth do not consistently show similar isotopic ratios of protium and deuterium.
Humans have long reflected on this mystery and continue to pursue the challenging research needed to solve this 4.5-billion-year-old problem, despite the difficulties in collecting and analysing the necessary evidence.
The research continues, and interestingly Allah tells us to “Reflect on the water that you drink.” (Surah al-Waqi’ah, Ch:56: V.69)
Water in the protoplanetary disk around our Sun
Dr Gary R Huss, along with his colleagues, has significantly advanced our understanding of the origin of Earth’s water. One of their key findings involves the analysis of hydrogen isotopes, specifically the Deuterium/Hydrogen ratio, in ancient rocks. These studies suggest that some of Earth’s water may have originated from the deep mantle, indicating that water was present on Earth from its formation.
This theory challenges the traditional view that water was delivered to Earth primarily by comets and asteroids after its formation. Instead, it proposes that water was incorporated into the planet during its initial formation and has been cycling through the mantle and crust ever since.
As Dr Huss explains, “We found that the water had very little deuterium, which strongly suggests that it was not carried to Earth after it had formed and cooled. Instead, water molecules were likely carried on the dust that existed in a disk around our Sun before the planets formed. Over time, this water-rich dust was slowly drawn together to form our planet. Even though a good deal of water would have been lost at the surface through evaporation in the heat of the formation process, enough survived to form the world’s water.”
The discovery that water molecules were likely carried on dust in the protoplanetary disk around our Sun before the planets formed has provided significant insights into the origins of water in our solar system. Studies have shown that water was present in the protoplanetary disk before the formation of planets. This water was likely carried on dust grains that existed in the disk.
The analysis of hydrogen isotopes, specifically the deuterium/hydrogen ratio, in ancient rocks and meteorites has provided clues about the origins of water. These ratios suggest that water in our solar system originated in the cold interstellar medium before the formation of the Sun.
Water played a crucial role in the early stages of planet formation. Beyond the snowline, where water vapor freezes, it coated dust grains as ice, making them stickier and aiding in the formation of larger clumps that eventually became planets. This intricate dance of dust and ice in the early solar system set the stage for the emergence of water on Earth, a vital ingredient for life.
Conclusion
Allah says:
هُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ ۖ لَّكُم مِّنۡهُ شَرَابٞ وَمِنۡهُ شَجَرٞ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ
“He it is Who sends down water for you from the clouds; out of it you have your drink, and there [grow] from it trees on which you pasture [your cattle.]” (Surah al-Nahl, Ch.16: V.11)
Despite the prevalent competing theories of either meteorites, comets, or the cloud discs around the Sun, one thing is clear: water came from the heavens and did not somehow chemically develop from within the Earth.
These findings suggest that water has been a fundamental component of our solar system since its earliest days, playing a vital role in the formation and evolution of planets.
A star 1,300 light-years from Earth might have just revealed one of the Solar System’s best-kept secrets. It’s called V883 Orionis, a young star surrounded by a huge disk of material that will one day coalesce into orbiting planets. In that disk, scientists have made an unambiguous detection of water vapor, swirling around with all the other dust and gas destined to become part of an alien world.
This discovery validates the theory that water vapours in the shape of a disk surrounded the Sun, and eventually, a portion landed on Earth and became incorporated into it. It came from the surrounding clouds in the shape of a disk but eventually reached Earth early on.
This also proves that the hydrogen’s radioisotope ratios in deep hidden minerals are more relatable to such ancient water clouds in a disk than to the meteor showers over Earth’s life or the comets carrying water.
The data measured for some comets, such as the famous Halley’s Comet, does confirm the presence of water. During its 1986 visit to the inner solar system, spacecraft observations confirmed that Halley’s Comet is composed of a mixture of volatile ices, including water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and methane, along with dust and rocky material. However, the radioisotope ratios for hydrogen did not corroborate with Earth’s water.
Hence, the cloud disk theory becomes the centrepiece in understanding the origins of water. This theory not only aligns with the isotopic evidence but also provides a coherent narrative for how water, the essence of life, was delivered to our planet from the heavens, setting the stage for the emergence and sustenance of life on Earth.
وَٱللَّهُ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءٗ فَأَحۡيَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَسۡمَعُونَ
“And Allah has sent down water from the sky, and has quickened therewith the earth after its death. Surely, in that is a Sign for a people who would hear.” (Surah al-Nahl, Ch.16: V.66)
References:
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