So I found this quote on quote 'waterworld'

[Siobhan]

Water worlds also have more frequent occurrences of Kevin Costner.

Good reason to just nuke them from orbit.

It's the only way to be sure.

 

[Duane Dibbley]

I seem to remember someone cleverer than me once pointed out that when viewed from space Earth should in fact be called Water.

*ahem*

http://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html

 

[Saool]

I've seen water worlds with more land that that.

Surly the definition is just that once the water to land crosses a certain threshold, it is considered a water world?

 

[Siobhan]

I've seen water worlds with more land that that.

Surly the definition is just that once the water to land crosses a certain threshold, it is considered a water world?

I'd say it's more that "Earthlike" is a sub-set of "Water World".

As in, all Earthlike's are Water Worlds, but not all Water Worlds are Earthlike.

 

[Deleted member 38366]

If that Planet's mix of Mass, Size, Temperature, Atmospheric pressure and Atmospheric composition doesn't qualify as an Earth-Like, it'll be labeled a Water World.
If it's near the needed Target Window of parameters, it'll be a Terraforming Candidate (which increases payout nicely).

End of story.

 

[Shanaeri]

I'm sure that the main deciding factor that determines if it's an earthlike or not is how desperate you are to find one. I.e the more desperate, the less likely you are to find one..

 

[Siobhan]

I'm sure that the main deciding factor that determines if it's an earthlike or not is how desperate you are to find one. I.e the more desperate, the less likely you are to find one..

Nah... if that were the case, I'd have found loads, since I honestly couldn't give a damn.
On the other hand, if you're that desperate to find one, I believe there are a couple in the Sol system.

 

[CMDR Argent Steel]

The thing I want to find is not just an ELW but one that has as near as possible the same characteristics as Earth itself, with 1g and the same ratio of nitrogen to oxygen, etc.

 

[Siobhan]

The thing I want to find is not just an ELW but one that has as near as possible the same characteristics as Earth itself, with 1g and the same ratio of nitrogen to oxygen, etc.

There's one just like that in the Sol system...

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

Sue them. Your lawyers gonna get rich!

 

[CMDR Argent Steel]

There's one just like that in the Sol system...

No...

Prove it.

 

[SpocksOddSocks]

As far as I can tell, a water world in game is one that has life based on carbon-water chemistry. An earth-like is one that is suitable for human habitation without need for terraforming.

If a water-world is not a candidate for terraforming, the the pressure is either way too high for us to do anything about, or it is not within what we would consider the habitable zone.

 

[Cmdr Cheese Wedge]

Those islands could well be bio-luminescent algae or plankton.
Also these islands are pretty common on most WW's. Don't forget the ice caps on some outer WW's plenty of "landmass" there.

 

[Ouberos]

*ahem*

http://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html

The Google is strong in this one.