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 discovery scientists at Northwestern University have unveiled, shaking our understanding of where Earth’s water comes from.
For years, scientists have debated the origins of Earth’s water. Comets were prime suspects, delivering their icy payloads through impacts, but this new discovery throws a wrench in that theory. Researchers, led by geophysicist Steven Jacobsen, stumbled upon a colossal water reservoir trapped within the Earth’s mantle, a scorching hot layer beneath the crust. This hidden ocean, three times the size of its surface counterparts, is cradled within a mineral called ringwoodite.
“The high water storage capacity of minerals in Earth’s mantle transition zone (410- to 660-kilometer depth) implies the possibility of a deep H2O reservoir, which could cause dehydration melting of vertically flowing mantle. We examined the effects of downwelling from the transition zone into the lower mantle with high-pressure laboratory experiments, numerical modelling, and seismic P-to-S conversions,” said the scientists.
This discovery completely rewrites our understanding of Earth’s water cycle. It suggests water isn’t just a surface phenomenon, but potentially exists within the mantle, migrating through cracks and crevices. Jacobsen emphasises the importance of this reservoir, stating, “Without this internal water source, Earth’s surface would likely be a barren landscape, with only mountain peaks peeking out from a vast ocean.”