Inner Oceans

Shades of Jules Verne. They’ve discovered an ocean of water under the earth.

Scientists scanning the deep interior of Earth have found evidence of a vast water reservoir beneath eastern Asia that is at least the volume of the Arctic Ocean.

The discovery marks the first time such a large body of water has found in the planet’s deep mantle.

I wonder if these same seismic tests are common. If not, there could be many other such oceans in places that need water. That could be a boon to them. 

The article doesn’t speculate as to whether the water is fresh or salt. This find shows that humans have no idea as to what else remains to be discovered.

Posted by  on  12/09  at  12:55 PM

Yes, it could be oil. An ocean of oil the size of the Arctic ocean.

Posted by  on  12/09  at  04:17 PM

Doubt it’s oil. Oil has a different ‘signature’ than water. Were it oil the reports likely would’ve said it was oil.

There is one problem with accessing this subterranean water, it’s not free standing. To put it simply, the crust---and, apparently, the upper mantle---is waterlogged. Even rocks in the desert are waterlogged. There is no place on Earth that is absolutely dry in the strict sense of the word. That Arctic Ocean of water is locked up in rock and thus is pretty much out of reach.

It’s also a safe bet that it supports life. Slow life. Bacteria with chemical processes that take years to complete. It is thought that most methane hydrate deposits are fed by such bacteria who individually produce maybe one methane molecule a year. (And should this methane be cooked under pressure for long enough, you get petroleum.)

Another benefit that water gives us is that it weakens Earth’s rocks. Makes it easier for pressure to deform and break it. Were it not for our water soaked world Earth would have a crust as thick as Venus’, and we wouldn’t be here. If we weren’t so wet we wouldn’t have plate tectonics, the ancient CO2 atmosphere would never have be sequestered away by the exposure of new rock in plate movements, and Earth’s surface would be bleedin hot. So while it’s not in a form where it can be easily extracted and drunk, it’s been benefiting us for billions of years.

Posted by mythusmage  on  12/10  at  01:39 PM
Page 1 of 1 pages

<< Back to main