For centuries, humanity believed Earth’s water was confined to its surface. But new research has unveiled a groundbreaking revelation: a vast hidden ocean lies buried 700 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface, deep within the mantle. This discovery, led by a team from Northwestern University, raises questions about the planet’s water cycle and challenges long-held assumptions about the origins of Earth’s water.
Ringwoodite: The key to Earth’s mantle water
Scientists estimate that this underground reservoir could be three times larger than the total area of all the oceans combined. However, unlike surface oceans, this “hidden ocean” is not made up of liquid water. Instead, the water is locked within the crystal structure of a rare blue rock called ringwoodite, which is found deep within the mantle.
The research team, led by Steven Jacobson, used more than 2,000 seismographs deployed across the US to track seismic waves from more than 500 earthquakes. These seismic waves slow down significantly at certain depths, indicating the presence of water-rich rocks. By measuring the speed of these waves at different depths, scientists can infer the existence of water trapped inside the mantle.
Implications for Earth’s water cycle and origin
This seismic discovery suggests that the origins of Earth’s water cycle may be much deeper than previously thought. Traditionally, it was believed that water came from comets that hit Earth. Now, scientists are considering that water may have seeped up from the Earth’s interior over millions of years.
The implications of this discovery are far-reaching. This underground ocean could play a key role in regulating the long-term stability of Earth’s surface water, potentially cycling water between the planet’s surface and its interior. Further studies are now planned to determine if similar water reservoirs exist elsewhere in the world, which could transform our understanding of water distribution on the planet.
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