How Earth's hidden mantle reservoirs saved our oceans from space
In short: Scientists are investigating how water survived Earth's early, molten state. This video explores how a deep mineral reservoir may have preserved water volumes comparable to today's oceans, preventing them from being lost to space.
Researchers have discovered that bridgmanite, the mantle's most abundant mineral, acts as a microscopic container for water. By using a diamond anvil cell to recreate pressures and temperatures exceeding 4,100 °C, scientists found that this mineral can hold much more water at high temperatures than previously thought.
This discovery suggests that as the planet cooled from a molten furnace approximately 4.6 billion years ago, a massive reservoir of water was trapped deep within the mantle. This hidden supply may have been essential in transforming Earth from a hostile, fiery environment into a world capable of supporting life.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Science Bulletins: Water Underground
- Also: How Earth endured a planet-wide inferno: The secret water vault under our feet
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