A groundbreaking study published inΒ NatureΒ reveals compelling evidence of a vast ocean trapped deep within the Earthβs mantle, about 400 miles beneath the surface.
This hidden water reservoir, stored within a rare mineral calledΒ ringwoodite, challenges previous ideas about how much water the planet holds. Scientists now believe that Earthβs interior contains as much water as all the surface oceans combined, locked inside mantle minerals under extreme pressure and heat.
The discovery focuses onΒ ringwoodite, a high-pressure mineral that forms in the Earthβs mantle between 250 and 410 miles deep. What makes ringwoodite unique is its ability to store water molecules within its crystal structure.Β
Steve Jacobsen, a co-author of the study, explained, βGeological processes on the Earthβs surface, such asΒ earthquakesΒ or erupting volcanoes, are an expression of what is going on inside the Earth, out of our sight.β He continued, βI think we are finally seeing evidence for a whole-Earth water cycle, which may help explain the vast amount of liquid water on the surface of our habitable planet.Β
https://t.co/cyKogq2Tbu Massive Ocean Discovered Beneath the Earth's Crust https://t.co/uFy04587Tc pic.twitter.com/6mvVu1pJzJ
— Billy Carson II (@4biddnKnowledge) April 10, 2023
