Author Question: Outline the conditions necessary for a planet to maintain an ocean of liquid water permanently. What ... (Read 97 times)

Cooldude101 · **on:** Aug 22, 2018

Outline the conditions necessary for a planet to maintain an ocean of liquid water permanently. What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Briefly, describe the formation of Earths ocean. What will be an ideal response?

nikmaaacs · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The conditions necessary to maintain a large, permanent liquid ocean include the following:
(1) a planet that moves in a nearly circular orbit around a stable star; (2) the distance of the
planet from the star must be such to provide a temperate environment in which water is
liquid; (3) the planets sun must not be a double or multiple star that provides orbital years
with irregular periods of intense heat and cold; (4) materials that accreted to form the planet
must have included water and substance capable of forming a solid crust; and (5) the planet
must be large enough that its gravity will keep the atmosphere and ocean from drifting off
into space.

Answer to Question 2

During Earths formation, gases trapped within the planet began to vent to the surface
through volcanic outgassing. As the hot vapors rose, they condensed into clouds in the cool
upper atmosphere. In addition, icy comets or asteroids colliding with Earth may have
contributed a portion of the accumulating water on Earth. As Earth cooled, outgassed water
began to form droplets and hot rains fell to Earth for millions of years forming a deep ocean.