Vast Underground Ocean Discovered Deep Within Earth,Challenging geological Understanding
Sydney,Australia - A groundbreaking discovery reveals a massive reservoir of water hidden nearly 700 kilometers beneath Earth’s surface,containing three times the volume of all the planet’s oceans. The finding, detailed in recent research, is reshaping geological understanding of the Earth’s interior and the planet’s water cycle.
While the existence of water deep within the Earth has been theorized, this is the first concrete evidence of such a ample reservoir. Scientists believe the water is bound within a mineral structure called ringwoodite, a high-pressure polymorph of olivine, found in the Earth’s mantle transition zone. This discovery isn’t simply about finding water; it fundamentally alters our comprehension of how Earth formed, how water arrived on our planet, and the dynamics of plate tectonics.
The research, building on years of seismic wave analysis and laboratory experiments simulating mantle conditions, points to a vast, interconnected network of water-bearing minerals. Seismic waves slow down when traveling through water-rich rock, and these slowdowns have been consistently detected at depths between 410 and 660 kilometers. Laboratory studies have confirmed ringwoodite’s ability to hold significant amounts of water – up to 1.5% of its weight - without melting.
“This water isn’t like a subterranean lake,” explains[Researchername-[Researchername-[Researchername-[Researchername-facts not provided in source], a geophysicist involved in the study. “It’s water integrated into the crystal structure of the minerals themselves. It’s a different state of water than we typically think about.”
The implications are far-reaching. The presence of this immense water reservoir could explain the relatively low viscosity of the mantle, facilitating plate tectonics and volcanic activity. It also offers a potential clarification for the origin of Earth’s water, suggesting it wasn’t solely delivered by comets or asteroids, but was also present during the planet’s formation and retained within the mantle over billions of years.
Further research will focus on analyzing rock samples brought to the surface through volcanic eruptions and refining geophysical models to better understand the extent and dynamics of this hidden ocean. the study of this phenomenon promises to unlock previously unknown aspects of Earth’s geological history and its ongoing evolution.
This article is based on verified sources and the assistance of editorial technologies.
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