We measured the incorporation of adsorbed alkanes in and their desorption from the amorphous solid water (ASW) by means of secondary ion mass spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption. The heavier alkanes such as butane and hexane are incorporated completely in the bulk of the nonporous ASW layer below 100 K probably due to the preferential formation of ice structures around the solute molecules. The self-diffusion of water molecules occurs above the glass transition temperature (136 K). The liquid water emerges above 165 K, as evidenced by simultaneous occurrence of the dehydration of alkanes and the morphological change of the water layer induced by the surface tension. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.