Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Scientists have found a massive underground ocean, three times larger than all of Earth's surface oceans combined, located 700 kilometres below the surface in Earth's mantle.
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The water is not in liquid form but is trapped in the crystal structure of a blue rock called ringwoodite. This unique formation holds vast amounts of water within the Earth's mantle.
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The discovery suggests that water may have gradually seeped from the Earth’s interior rather than arriving from comet impacts, challenging traditional theories about the origin of Earth’s water.
The research team, led by Steven Jacobsen from Northwestern University, used over 2,000 seismographs across the U.S. to analyze seismic waves from 500 earthquakes, detecting water- rich rocks based on how the waves slowed down.
By measuring seismic wave velocities at different depths, scientists were able to infer the presence of water in the mantle, providing new insights into Earth's internal structure and water storage.
This underground reservoir could explain the long-term stability of surface oceans, indicating a possible cycling of water between the Earth’s interior and surface over geological time scales.
Researchers plan to expand their study globally to understand if mantle water is widespread, which could significantly impact our understanding of Earth's water cycle and its long-term stability.
The discovery opens avenues for further research into extreme environments within Earth’s mantle, as well as the sustainability of Earth's ecosystems and the role of deep reservoirs in supporting life.