Scientists discover massive water reservoir 660 km below Earth's surface

Earth scientists have identified evidence of a massive water reservoir located hundreds of kilometers beneath the planet's crust. Detailed in the journal Science, the findings suggest that the deep interior holds a volume of water potentially three times greater than all of Earth's surface oceans combined.

The water is not in a liquid form as seen on the surface, but is trapped within a mineral called ringwoodite. Located in the transition zone approximately 660 km underground, this mineral acts like a natural sponge, attracting hydrogen and retaining it within its crystalline structure.

Geophysicist Steve Jacobsen of Northwestern University, a co-author of the study, led the research using data from the USArray seismometer network and simulations. The discovery provides a potential answer to long-standing questions regarding the origin of Earth's water, suggesting it may have originated from the planet's interior through tectonic activity rather than being delivered solely by icy comets.