Salt may be the key to life on Earth and beyond

The climate is influenced by the composition of the atmosphere. The presence of salt in the water can affect the habitability of Earth and other planets. The team used a climate model to investigate the climates of worlds with different amounts of salt dissolved in seawater to predict that saltier oceans tend to result in warmer climates.

The study focused on how much salt is dissolved in the water. Saltier oceans tend to lead to warmer climates. The key ingredient for early Earth habitability may have been this salt. It may be possible for life beyond our solar system to exist further from its host star.

More information: Stephanie Olson et al, The Effect of Ocean Salinity on Climate and Its Implications for Earth's Habitability, Geophysical Research Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1029/2021GL095748 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters