Volcanoes Ice and Early Oceans

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Long ago, volcanoes released hot gases and water vapor into the air. Icy comets and asteroids struck the young planet, adding more water and gases that cooled into the first oceans and atmosphere.

In the picture

Volcano plume: hot gases and water vapor rising from the young planet
Steam cloud: water vapor cooling above the volcano
Dark rain: water falling into the growing ocean
Icy comet: frozen water and gases arriving from space

Examples

Steam rising from a boiling kettle
Frost on a freezer wall melting into drops

Key takeaways

Volcanic gases and icy impacts both added water and gases to the early planet.
When the planet cooled, that water vapor condensed into the first oceans, and the gases formed the early atmosphere.