Scientists Discover Huge ‘Ocean’ Beneath Earth’s Crust

Water has always been considered an external force that shapes our planet’s surface. However, studies suggest it plays a crucial role deep beneath the Earth’s crust.¹ These studies reveal that water exists in vast quantities up to 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) below the Earth’s surface, in the mantle’s deepest reaches.

Water’s Role in Geological Activity

Water isn’t just essential for life on the surface and a key player in the geodynamic processes that shape our planet. Dr. Mainak Mookherjee, who led one of the studies, explains that water within the Earth’s interior is critical for mantle convection. This process involves the movement of solid rocks from hotter to colder regions over geological time scales. Without water, this mantle convection would be inefficient and eventually stop working.

Dr. Mookherjee goes on to highlight the connection between mantle convection and volcanic activity. The expression of mantle convection occurs through plate motion and tectonics, processes responsible for the creation of volcanoes. Volcanoes, in turn, play a crucial role in generating the Earth’s crust, where we reside. Without volcanic activity, crust formation would cease, and planetary processes would grind to a halt.

The idea of water being present deep within the Earth was first proposed in 2014 when researchers found evidence of water in diamond fragments from Earth’s mantle.² These diamonds contain specks of minerals that formed hundreds of kilometers underground, offering insights into the Earth’s otherwise inaccessible interior. The water isn’t in liquid form but rather consists of atoms of hydrogen and oxygen embedded in the crystal structure of the minerals, which, as we know, are what water is made out of.

Read: Are We Living in a Simulation? Physicist Says We’re Just Characters in an Advanced Virtual World

Earth’s Crust, Water, and The “Transition Zone“

Researchers have identified a region known as the “transition zone” between 410 and 660 kilometers below the Earth’s surface as the key location for these hydrous minerals. This zone is situated between the upper and lower mantles. These minerals, including wadsleyite and ringwoodite, can store water and release it when they melt.

Experiments suggest that minerals in the transition zone, such as wadsleyite and ringwoodite, can hold significant amounts of water, potentially 1 to 3 percent of their weight. Considering the transition zone’s considerable thickness and Earth’s mass, it’s possible that it contains several times the water found in all the world’s oceans.

Seismic data has indicated the presence of minerals that are conducive to water, potentially signifying a vast reservoir of water deep underground. In one study, scientists found diamonds with actual water ice enclosed within them, demonstrating that water exists far deeper than previously imagined.

The question arises: how did this immense amount of water end up beneath our feet? According to the traditional narrative, Earth’s water was delivered to the planet by water-rich celestial bodies like asteroids and comets. However, if there is indeed an enormous reservoir of water in the transition zone, it challenges this notion. Some theories propose that water might have stuck to dust particles during Earth’s formation, suggesting that at least some of the interior water has always been present.

Unlocking the Mysteries Beneath Earth’s Crust

While these findings are exciting, there is much still to learn. Scientists continue to explore the nature and extent of water within the Earth’s mantle. The ability to measure the electrical conductivity of the mantle shows promise, and finding more diamonds with hydrous minerals could provide further insights into the Earth’s hidden reservoirs.

This discovery of vast amounts of water deep within the Earth’s mantle redefines our understanding of our planet’s geological processes. This hidden water source underscores the intricate interplay between surface activities like volcanic eruptions and the dynamic forces deep beneath our feet, making Earth’s geology even more fascinating and mysterious.

Keep Reading: Oldest DNA in America Traced Back to Montana Man