Hidden Ocean 'Larger Than All of Earth's Oceans Combined' Discovered by Scientists 700 Kilometers Below Planet's Surface

A hidden ocean "larger than all of Earth's oceans combined" located 700 kilometers below the planet's surface has been discovered by scientists in the United States. Researchers from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, found the massive subterranean water reservoir by using 2,000 seismographs across the US to examine seismic waves produced by over 500 earthquakes.

The findings add contradictions to previous notions of vast bodies of water only existing on Earth's surface. However, studies in recent decades showed that subterranean water, including hundreds of interconnected lakes and rivers under Antarctic ice. Not only the existence of these underground water reservoirs has fascinated the scientific community, but also the potential for undiscovered aquatic life within them.

Hidden Ocean Discovered

The primary researcher behind the discovery of the hidden ocean is Steven Jacobsen, a mineralogist at Northwestern University, who led a team to examine the slowdown of seismic waves as they pass through Earth's core or center. This method has led to the discovery of substantial evidence of water within the rocks below our planet. Recent reports in April show that the subterranean ocean contained a mineral called ringwoodite.

The mineral in this part of Earth contradicts the scientific community's previous understanding regarding the roots of water on the planet. In previous literature, some theories suggest the origin of water came from outer space, primarily from asteroid or comet impacts. Moreover, different hypotheses imply that the compound came from Earth itself, mainly from molecular precursors of water, according to The Planetary Society.

In a 2018 report, Jacobsen's research implies that Earth's mantle could hold more water than previously thought. The mantle is approximately 2,900 kilometers thick and is located between our planet's scorching, dense core and thin outer layer, called the crust. Over the past decade, evidence of underground oceans has become stronger more than ever due to a series of discoveries that prove their existence.

How Did Water Get to Earth?

The two theories mentioned earlier about the potential origin of water on Earth could be compatible with each other. This thought entails that Earth could have received its "most essential compound" for all living organisms from multiple sources, The Planetary Society emphasizes. These theories emerge amid our increased understanding of the water cycle and its importance both to ecosystems and the environment.

Yet, while the exact origin of water remains a mystery, the discovery of hidden oceans under the Earth's surface changes our understanding of the subject matter, according to scientists. While water seems to be everywhere, experts and authorities in previous years warned that the amount of accessible water could decrease. According to the United Nations, water, being a finite resource, could become scarcer as demand increases.

About subterranean water reservoirs, scientists had considered before potentially using them as an additional resource amid the 'global water crisis,' as reported by the UN in recent years.