Seismic waves reveal vast hidden ocean beneath the U.S.
Scientists discovered a massive ocean hidden hundreds of kilometres beneath the Earth's surface a few years ago. Researchers claim that this underground ocean is three times the size of all the oceans on Earth's surface combined, suggesting it may be the largest water reservoir in the world. However, it's important to note that this ocean does not take a traditional form and does not exist in liquid form.
The Earth service reminds us that scientists have long speculated about a massive ocean hidden beneath the Earth's surface, in the transition zone between the upper and lower mantle, at a depth of approximately 400 to 650 km. In 2014, geophysicist Steve Jacobsen from Northwestern University and seismologist Brandon Schmandt from the University of New Mexico provided direct evidence of this structure, which they described in the scientific journal "Science".
Ocean under the United States
Researchers claim that this massive underground ocean is located beneath the United States at a depth of about 650 km. They determined this using a network of seismographs deployed across the United States in 2000. These devices detected and analyzed seismic waves from over 500 earthquakes. As these waves travelled deeper into the planet, through the transition zone, their speed increased, indicating the presence of a vast water reservoir.
Experts emphasize that the underground ocean is not what its name might suggest. It doesn’t exist in liquid or ice form. As explained by the Earth service, water is trapped in the molecular structure of minerals located in the Earth's mantle. The mineral containing it is ringwoodite, a form of olivine. Ringwoodite, known for its intense blue colour, contains about 2.5 to 3% water by weight.
This discovery offers a new perspective on the Earth's water cycle and could significantly impact theories regarding the origin of water on our planet. The prevailing theory suggests that water arrived on Earth through asteroids or comets that hit the planet about 4.2 to 3.8 billion years ago, during the period known as the Late Heavy Bombardment. However, research conducted by Jacobsen and Schmandt indicates that water may have originated within the Earth, gradually being released from its core.
