Hidden ocean under the US may reshape Earth's water story
A few years ago, scientists discovered a vast ocean hidden hundreds of miles beneath the Earth's surface. Researchers claim that this underground ocean is three times larger than all the oceans on Earth's surface combined, suggesting it may be the largest water reservoir in the world. It's important to note, however, that this ocean doesn't have a traditional form and doesn't exist in liquid form.
The Earth service reminds us that scientists have long speculated about the existence of an enormous ocean hidden beneath the Earth's surface, in the transition zone between the upper and lower mantle, at a depth of about 250 to 400 miles. In 2014, geophysicist Steve Jacobsen from Northwestern University and seismologist Brandon Schmandt from the University of New Mexico were the first to provide direct evidence of this structure, as described in the scientific journal "Science."
Ocean under the United States
Researchers claim that the vast underground ocean is located beneath the United States at a depth of approximately 400 miles. They determined this with the help of a network of seismographs deployed across the USA in 2000. These devices recorded and analyzed seismic waves from over 500 earthquakes. As these waves traveled deeper into the planet, in the transition zone, their velocity increased, indicating the presence of an extensive water reservoir.
Experts emphasize that the underground ocean is different from what its name suggests. It doesn't exist in liquid or ice form. As explained by the Earth service, the water is trapped in the molecular structure of minerals found in the Earth's mantle. The mineral that holds it is ringwoodite, a form of olivine. Ringwoodite, characterized by its deep blue color, contains about 2.5 to 3 percent water by weight.
This discovery introduces a new perspective on the Earth's water cycle and may significantly impact theories regarding the origin of water on our planet. The prevailing theory suggested that water arrived on Earth due to asteroids or comets that struck it around 4.2 to 3.8 billion years ago, during the Late Heavy Bombardment. However, research conducted by Jacobsen and Schmandt indicates that the water may have originated from within the Earth, gradually released from its core.
