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 magnitude of this hidden sea prompts a re-evaluation of Earth’s water cycle, suggesting a potential departure from theories positing comet impacts as the primary source. Instead, the notion that Earth’s oceans might have gradually seeped from its core gains prominence.
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.