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Water Versus Land on Temperate Rocky Planets
Claire Marie Guimond1, Tilman Spohn2, Svetlana Berdyugina3
1Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Planetary Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3PU UK.
Space Science Reviews
|January 12, 2026
Summary
The ratio of water to land on rocky planets influences climate and life. Future telescopes may determine this ratio on exoplanets by analyzing surface reflectance, aiding the search for habitable worlds.
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Astrobiology
- Geophysics
Background:
- Planetary surface interactions with atmosphere and stellar radiation shape environments.
- These environments influence prebiotic chemistry and the evolution of life.
- Understanding the water/land ratio is crucial for assessing planetary habitability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review physical conditions determining planetary land/sea ratios.
- To examine the climatic and biologic effects of this ratio.
- To assess the feasibility of constraining exoplanet water/land ratios with future observations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of water delivery mechanisms to rocky planets.
- Review of water sequestration limits in planetary mantles.
- Examination of surface processes shaping ocean basins and topography.
- Modeling of Earth's surface reflectance for exoplanet analog studies.
Main Results:
- Multiple mechanisms can deliver significant water to rocky planets.
- Planetary mantle water content is limited, likely <2000 ppm.
- Water/land ratio results from a balance of water volume and planetary topography.
- Earth-like exoplanet water/land ratios are potentially determinable via reflectance mapping.
Conclusions:
- The water/land ratio is a key factor in planetary habitability.
- Future high-contrast imaging telescopes can constrain exoplanet water/land ratios.
- This capability will advance the search for life beyond Earth.
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