How Much Water Is On Earth

The Moon may have as much water as Earth does

The researchers used a special ion probe to analyze samples of volcanic glass dug up from the Moon's surface by the crew of Apollo 17. Water and other volatiles from deep beneath the Moon's surface remain preserved in this glass, and allowed the team of scientists to determine likely water levels in the Moon's mantle. Those levels were 100 times higher than what previous studies found.

If this study holds up, Moon only has as much water as Earth does in a proportional sense - not as much total water, but as much water as the Earth would have in its mantle if it were the same size as the Moon.

In other words, we're seeing — at least in this chunk of volcanic glass — something that looks very similar to what we'd expect on Earth. This could change our understanding of how the Moon was formed. Generally it's believed that the Moon broke off from Earth when our planet was hit by a Mars-sized body. But an impact like that wouldn't have left much water behind. Is it possible the Moon was formed in some other way? That's a subject for further research, but the research team notes two possibilities: one, at some point Earth and the Moon may have shared the same "atmospheric envelope;" or two, the sample that the team analyzed might be aberrant and not indicative of a watery mantle all over the Moon.

These findings also shed light on the icy deposits that probes recently found deep in the shadows of Moon craters. Until now, scientists mostly believed that water came from icy meteors smashing into Luna and leaving water behind. Now it seems that this water probably originated on the Moon, and was brought to the surface by magma in volcanic eruptions.

So how will all of this affect our plans for a lunar colony? Obviously, if the mantle is as water-rich as this new research suggests, we'll have a better chance of generating water and oxygen on the Moon for our habitats. Plus, If lunar water is associated with volcanic activity, then that makes NASA's idea to build a lunar colony in one of the Moon's giant magma holes even more attractive.

Inside the Moon has Just as Much Water as on Earth | Ready For The ...

~by Wendy Zangari Water being inside of the Moon is the most wonderful discovery I can imagine, until something else brings me to en-wonderment. This means that life is possible, and this is exciting.  We need to respect this discovery though, and understand that we cannot disturb yet another environment.  Leave the Moon alone, do not destroy the Moon as well!  We love the Moon!  I am a Moon child as I was born in the month of June, a Cancerian, so much that my moods go with the tides of the Moon. Now knowing that there is water inside the Moon, I can say “no wonder I am so emotional!” There is so much to discover, we have yet to even discover Earth and we are travelling on Mars now, just amazing!  I have seen things in my time, but this is incredible, sorry I can’t stop!  There is a Lunar melt of some molten rock, which means that the Moons crust is very similar to a lot of the volcanic areas on Earth.  This magma water that is created from the volcanic eruptions has a 100 times higher content of magma water, than previous studies have shown.  Plus, this is not the only planet in the Star System that has water. This can mean that there is life that is evolving on the Moon and has not yet created beings, or perhaps it already does.  Hopefully we will find out what else is out there in the Galaxy.  My husband and I are getting a beginners telescope, if anyone has really great suggestions for a home that resides in the city, with lots of light pollution.  So if you know of any, let me know.  NO ADVERTS PLEASE!  Just suggestions!  Thanks and enjoy the article. _________________________________________________________________ Scientists detect Earth-equivalent amount of water within the moon

The finding from a scientific team including Brown University comes from the first-ever measurements of water in lunar melt inclusions. Those measurements show that some parts of the lunar mantle have as much water as the Earth’s upper mantle. Lunar melt inclusions are tiny globules of molten rock trapped within crystals that are found in volcanic glass deposits formed during explosive eruptions. The new finding, published this week in  Science Express paper and the principal investigator on the research grants, “is that in 2008, we said the primitive water content in the lunar magmas should be similar to the water content in lavas coming from the Earth’s depleted upper mantle.