Researchers have discovered a massive underwater reservoir, containing three times the volume of Earth's surface oceans, located about 700 km below the surface.
This immense water source lies within Earth's mantle, defying previous theories about where Earth's water came from.
The water is contained within ringwoodite, a unique blue mineral found deep inside the Earth.
This discovery challenges previous ideas about where Earth's water came from, hinting at an internal origin rather than from comet impacts as previously thought.
Leading this scientific investigation was Steven Jacobsen, a distinguished researcher at Northwestern University, providing convincing evidence for internal water sources.
The breakthrough included using a vast network of 2000 seismographs across the United States to study seismic waves from more than 500 earthquakes.
This hidden ocean may change how we view Earth's water cycle, suggesting water exists in the mantle and moves through rock formations.
Grasping the workings of this secret ocean holds global significance, shaping our views on and approaches to managing Earth's water resources.
Further investigation into the properties and behaviour of this hidden ocean is set to reveal more about Earth's geological processes and how water is distributed within the planet.