Scientists have made a stunning discovery—an underground ocean hidden 400 miles beneath the Earth’s surface, containing three times more water than all the oceans combined.
But this isn’t a vast sea like we see on the surface. Instead, the water is trapped within a mineral called ringwoodite, which acts like a sponge, absorbing and storing water deep within the Earth’s mantle.
This finding, detailed in the study Dehydration Melting at the Top of the Lower Mantle, reveals that our planet has a hidden, deep-Earth water cycle that was previously unknown.
Geophysicist Steve Jacobsen explained that researchers detected this massive reservoir by analyzing seismic waves. This breakthrough could reshape our understanding of Earth’s internal processes and how water moves within the planet.
Could this change our perspective on Earth’s history? Let us know what you think!
