The Earth’s Crust Stores More Water. PHOTO/ PHOTO/ DAILY
JAKARTA – The latest research published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters in 2021, there is more water underground or beneath the earth’s surface than in the layers ice and glaciers on this planet.
The Earth’s crust holds about 43.9 million cubic kilometers (10.5 million cubic miles) of water. By comparison, Antarctic ice contains about 6.5 million cubic miles (27 million cubic km) of water, while Greenland ice holds about 720,000 cubic miles (3 million cubic km).
Glaciers off Antarctica and Greenland hold about 38,000 cubic miles (158,000 cubic km) of water.
Although Earth’s surface oceans remain the world’s largest water reservoir, holding approximately 312 million cubic miles (1.3 billion cubic km) of water, groundwater is Earth’s second largest water reservoir.
The 2021 study expands previous estimates by considering groundwater within 6.2 miles (9.98 kilometers) of the Earth’s crust, including sedimentary rocks, which are more porous than crystalline rocks.
Thus, the estimated total groundwater doubled from about 2 million cubic miles (8.5 million cubic km) to 4.9 million cubic miles (20.3 million cubic km).
This discovery shows that underground water is a much greater resource than previously thought.
This can help scientists and policymakers to better understand and manage this important water resource.
(wbs)
2024-03-29 09:23:37
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