As per the latest development, a vast reservoir of water, which is three times the size of all the Earth’s oceans combined, lying deep beneath the planet’s surface, has been discovered.
This subterranean water source resides approximately 700 km below us. This remarkable discovery was made by scientists from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
As they sought to uncover the source of Earth’s water, researchers made a remarkable discovery—a vast ocean hidden deep within the Earth’s mantle, far beneath the surface. Enclosed within ringwoodite, a rock displaying a unique blue hue, this hidden ocean challenges our understanding of where Earth’s water originates.
The vastness of this concealed ocean prompts a reassessment of Earth’s water cycle, hinting at a possible shift away from theories proposing comet impacts as the main source. Instead, the idea that Earth’s oceans may have slowly seeped from its core gains traction.
The scientific endeavour behind this revelation was led by Steven Jacobsen, a researcher at Northwestern University, who asserts, “This constitutes significant evidence supporting the notion that Earth’s water originated internally.”
Discovering the existence of this subterranean ocean required deploying a vast network of 2000 seismographs throughout the United States. These instruments methodically analysed seismic waves generated by more than 500 earthquakes. As these waves traversed the inner depths of the Earth, including its core, they decelerated upon encountering damp rock, signaling the existence of this extensive water reservoir.
This discovery potentially reshapes our understanding of Earth’s water cycle, proposing that water may exist within the mantle, migrating amid rock grains. Jacobsen stresses the reservoir’s significance, highlighting its role in maintaining water beneath Earth’s surface, without which water would predominantly reside on the planet’s surface, rendering only mountain peaks visible.
Researchers are enthusiastic about gathering more seismic data worldwide following this groundbreaking revelation, aiming to determine the extent of mantle melting. Their findings hold the potential to revolutionize our understanding of Earth’s water cycle, offering new perspectives on one of the planet’s fundamental processes.
