Fresh water present on Earth ‘500 million years earlier than previously thought’

Water on Earth moves between the land, oceans and atmosphere via processes including evaporation and precipitation (David Davies/PA)

Fresh water, which is essential for life, appeared on Earth about four billion years ago – 500 million years earlier than previously thought, research suggests.

The findings, based on analysis of ancient crystals from the Jack Hills in Western Australia’s Mid West region, push back the timeline for the emergence of fresh water to just a few hundred million years after the planet formed.