The origin and evolution of the oceans
Abstract
A model is proposed for simulating the mechanism of degassing of the earth and the formation of the oceans, assuming that the primeval earth was originally devoid of a hydrosphere and that the primeval atmosphere contained only small amounts of noble gases and, perhaps, nitrogen. Equations are derived for the degassing of the earth mantle in the Archean and the post-Archean eras, together with boundary conditions required by these equations. Results are presented of calculations of the water mass in the hydrosphere by the time of the Early Proterozoic and of the rate of mantle degassing in the Archean and the post-Archean periods. It is shown that the major part of the terrestrial water mass appeared only in the post-Archean period, when the earth tectonics was past the most turbulent period.
- Publication:
-
The Life of the Earth - Evolution of the Earth and the Planets
- Pub Date:
- 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990leep.book...46S
- Keywords:
-
- Earth Core;
- Earth Hydrosphere;
- Earth Mantle;
- Earth Planetary Structure;
- Oceanography;
- Planetary Evolution;
- Boundary Conditions;
- Degassing;
- Earth Sciences;
- Precambrian Period;
- Geophysics