Massive ocean discovered underneath Earth’s crust
Scientists have discovered an ocean located beneath the Earth's crust that contains more water than all the surface oceans combined.
This vast reservoir of water is situated more than 640 kilometers (about 400 miles) below the Earth's surface.
Previous research revealed that water is stored within mantle rocks in a sponge-like form, existing in a unique "fourth state"—neither liquid, solid, nor gas.
In 2014, a groundbreaking study titled Dehydration Melting at the Top of the Lower Mantle detailed these findings.
"The ringwoodite is like a sponge, soaking up water, there is something very special about the crystal structure of ringwoodite that allows it to attract hydrogen and trap water," said geophysicist Steve Jacobsen at the time.
He added: "I 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. Scientists have been looking for this missing deep water for decades."
(QG - Source: Indy100/ Picture: © Unsplash)