Massive Ocean Lies 700 Kilometers Below Earth’s Surface

The world has been fascinated by certain scientific accomplishments and discoveries. Some amazing findings have completely blown our minds, ranging from a gigantic black hole to a South Korean fusion reactor that has reached its greatest temperature ever.

A gigantic ocean that is hidden under the Earth’s crust is the subject of another scientific story that is currently gaining popularity on social media. The water is stored 700 kilometers below Earth’s surface in a ringwoodite rock.

This subsurface reservoir contains three times the volume of all of the planet’s surface oceans combined. A 2014 scientific publication titled ‘Dehydration Melting Near the Top of the Lower Mantle’ presents the findings in detail.

It also discussed the special qualities of ringwoodite. Geophysicist Steve Jacobsen, a crucial part of the finding team, stated at the time that ringwoodite is like a sponge that absorbs water.

He also said that there is something quite unique about the crystal structure of ringwoodite that allows it to attract hydrogen and absorb water. He further said that for decades, scientists have been searching for this missing deep water.

The scientists also found the intergranular melt in the transition zone. These findings indicate that a sizable portion of the transition zone is hydrated and that the melting of dehydration may operate to confine H2O within the zone.