Scientists found a massive underground ocean hidden 700km below Earth's surface. Here's all about it

Scientists have discovered a vast underground ocean located about 700 kilometers below the Earth's surface. This new finding reveals an ocean three times larger than all the Earth's surface oceans combined. However, this ocean is different from what we usually think of as an ocean.

Instead of liquid water, this underground ocean consists of water trapped in the crystalline structure of a blue mineral called ringwoodite. The research team, led by geophysicist Steven Jacobsen, used seismic data from thousands of earthquakes to uncover this hidden reservoir.

The defining feature of this underground ocean is its crystallized water form, which is locked within the molecular structure of ringwoodite. This unique form of water storage challenges previous theories about Earth's water reservoirs.


This discovery could change our understanding of Earth's water cycle. Jacobsen’s team conducted their analysis by using about 2,000 seismographs across the United States to monitor seismic waves generated by around 500 earthquakes. They studied how these waves traveled through the Earth and detected water-rich rocks deep beneath the surface.

Although this reservoir is not an ocean in the traditional sense, its implications are significant. Scientists believe that this hidden water might play a crucial role in stabilizing surface oceans by regulating Earth's overall water cycle.

One of the key questions that remain is how this underground ocean affects the rest of the planet. Jacobsen’s team plans to expand their research by collecting seismic data from other parts of the world. They aim to determine whether the melting of the Earth's mantle, influenced by this trapped water, is a global phenomenon or restricted to certain regions. According to the researchers, “The results of this research could offer critical insights into Earth's geological processes and water cycle.”

Further research will shed more light on how water moves through Earth's layers and its broader implications.