Massive Ocean Discovered, Triple the Volume of Earth’s Surface Oceans

Researchers at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, have made a groundbreaking discovery of a vast water reservoir, hidden deep within the Earth’s mantle, about 700 kilometers beneath the surface. This underground ocean, trapped within a mineral called ringwoodite, contains a volume of water three times greater than all the Earth’s surface oceans combined.

This significant discovery challenges existing theories about the origin of Earth’s water, suggesting that our oceans might have originated from deep within the Earth itself, rather than being delivered through comet impacts as previously theorized.

Steven Jacobsen, the study’s lead author, highlighted the implications of this finding, stating, “This is significant evidence that water on Earth came from within.”

The discovery was made possible by analyzing the seismic waves generated by over 500 earthquakes, using a network of 2,000 seismographs across the United States. These waves slow down when passing through wet rock, indicating the presence of this massive water reservoir.

The existence of water in the Earth’s mantle and its movement through the rock grains could redefine our understanding of the Earth’s water cycle. Jacobsen pointed out the critical role of this underground ocean in determining the distribution of water on Earth’s surface, suggesting that without this reservoir, the only dry land visible might be the tips of mountains.

Researchers are now eager to collect more seismic data globally to explore whether this phenomenon of mantle melting and water storage is widespread. This exploration could transform our understanding of Earth’s water cycle, shedding light on a vital aspect of our planet’s natural processes.