Water in Solar System

Question 1

Tide Pools

Answer 1

• cyclic evapo-concentration

Question 2

Sea Ice Brine Pockets

Answer 2

• concentrations of organics and minerals
• low temp stabilizes reaction products

Question 3

Sea surface microlayer

Answer 3

• interface between atmosphere and ocean, solar radiation, oil slick accumulation

Question 4

Marine Sediments

Answer 4

• abundant clays
• catchment area for organics

Question 5

Hydrothermal Systems

Answer 5

• Concentrating mechanisms of organics in vents
• abundant metals, H2, CO2 –> energy sources

Question 6

Theories for Water on Earth

Answer 6

(1) arrived from ET source/contact
(2) already a part of newly formed Earth
- delivered during accretion and exposed to surface via volcanism

Question 7

Water

Answer 7

• abundant
• stable - over a range of temperatures and pressures
• polar - carries (+) and (-) charge
• can dissolve a wide range of solutes
  solvent of life
  solutes CHNOPS
• good medium for chemical reactions
• life is a water base phenomenon

Question 8

Frost Line

Answer 8

• water and volatiles condense in outer solar system during formation
• beyond Mars
• icy moons / gas giants - rich in volatile compounds and CHNOPS

Question 9

Open Ocean

Answer 9

• water/lock interactions - deliver chemical compounds to ocean
• deep hydrothermal vents –> plumes could support primitive microbial life
• sealed ocean worlds –> under ice
• ex: Titan, europa, and enceladus

Question 10

Water molecules most strongly attracted to….

Answer 10

Oxygen atoms
- responsible for formation of phospholipid membrane and cell birth
- Azotosomes - potential molecule for formation of cell membranes on Titan