Water Within the Earth: The Hidden Ocean Beneath Our Feet
In 2014, scientists from Northwestern University in Illinois, led by geophysicist Steve Jacobsen, made a discovery that reshaped our understanding of the planet — an enormous "ocean" located about 700 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface.
🔹 But it’s not water as we know it.
This underground reservoir is not liquid, but water held within the crystal structure of a rare blue mineral called ringwoodite, found in Earth’s mantle. Under immense pressure and heat, ringwoodite acts like a sponge — trapping water and hydrogen deep within the Earth.
🔹 How big is it?
Scientists estimate that this reservoir holds three times more water than all surface oceans combined.
🔹 How was it discovered?
By analyzing seismic data from thousands of earthquakes, researchers tracked how shock waves slowed down in certain layers — a clue to the presence of water-bound rock.
🔹 Why does it matter?
This discovery challenges old theories that Earth’s water came only from comets. It suggests that our planet may have carried its own water from the very beginning.
🔹 Deep beneath our feet lies a vast ocean — not visible, yet powerfully present. It reminds us that just like life, water can be hidden, waiting patiently in stillness.