Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that is set to shake up everything we thought we knew about the water cycle. Hidden beneath our feet lies a colossal ocean, so vast that it contains three times the amount of water present in all five of our planet’s oceans combined!
This incredible revelation was unearthed when a piece of diamond, measuring a mere 1.5 cm, was discovered in Brazil. It had been pushed up from a depth of about 700 meters by powerful volcanic forces originating from the transition zone. Within this diamond, scientists found a mineral called ringwoodite, which is known for its ability to absorb water from its surroundings. Remarkably, this particular diamond contained a staggering 1.5% water – an astonishingly high percentage.
The face of our planet is in a constant state of flux, shaped by the unrelenting forces of tectonic activity. Convection currents within the magma and the movement of subducting plates contribute significantly to the motion of these plates, leading to the formation of mountains, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and landslides. What’s more, subducting oceanic plates are believed to carry vast quantities of water down into the transition zone, a process that has been occurring for millions of years.
As it turns out, much of the water that we thought existed in the transition zone may actually be trapped in minerals like ringwoodite. This is a revelation that is set to fundamentally alter our understanding of the water cycle and the workings of our planet’s internal structure. With each new discovery, the mysteries of our planet are slowly but surely being revealed, and we are left in awe of the complex and intricate processes that shape our world.
