Скачать или смотреть The Origin of Earth's Water

Where did Earth's water come from? Why is the ocean salty? And how is the water coming out of your tap older than the dinosaurs?

All the water on Earth has been here for billions of years. Most of it was delivered by asteroids that crashed into our young planet, and some was trapped deep inside Earth and released by volcanoes over time.

The ocean's salt comes from two places: rivers dissolving minerals from rocks on land, and hot hydrothermal vents on the seafloor leaching minerals from volcanic rock. And no, the ocean will not keep getting saltier - natural processes like shell-building sea life and salt deposits keep salinity balanced.

The best part? Earth's water cycle is endless. Sun-powered evaporation turns ocean water into clouds, which produce rain and snow, which flows back to the ocean. No new water is created, and none is really lost.

The same water that dinosaurs drank is the water you are drinking today.