‘3x bigger than all surface water’: A vast ocean buried 400 miles beneath Earth’s crust
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Hidden Ocean
Scientists discovered a massive reservoir of water 400 miles beneath Earth’s crust, stored in a mineral called ringwoodite.
Earth’s Secret
Geophysicist Steve Jacobsen says this underground water cycle could explain why Earth has so much surface water.
Buried Deep
This trapped water isn’t liquid, solid, or gas—it exists in a fourth state, absorbed like a sponge in deep mantle rock.
Ocean Below
If just 1% of ringwoodite holds water, there’s three times more water underground than in all of Earth’s oceans combined.
Seismic Surprise
Scientists detected this water by studying earthquake shockwaves, which revealed the hidden mantle reservoir.
Mind-Blowing Science
This revelation joins other huge discoveries, like a black hole aimed at Earth and a missing continent found after 375 years.
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Nature’s Mysteries
The discovery of a new ecosystem under volcanic crust shows that Earth still has many secrets to reveal.
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Water Cycle Rewritten
Researchers now believe Earth has a whole-planet water cycle, with deep water constantly moving between layers.
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More to Find
Scientists believe this deep water discovery is just the beginning—there may be even larger reservoirs hidden inside the planet.
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