Vast oceans lay beneath surface of the Earth

Discussion in 'Earth Science' started by positiv1, Aug 24, 2009.

  1. positiv1 Registered Member

    Messages:
    6
    Scientists believe areas of enhanced electrical conductivity in the mantle - the thick region between the Earth's crust and its core - betray the presence of water.
    Water divining researchers produced a global three-dimensional map of the mantle showing the areas through which electricity flowed most freely.
    Conductivity hot spots were found to coincide with subduction zones, sites where the tectonic plates that divide up the Earth's surface are being forced downwards.
    This was a surprise since subducting plates are colder than the surrounding mantle rock, and should therefore be less conductive.
    The anomaly is best explained by water being drawn downwards by the subduction process and increasing conductivity, say the scientists.
    ''The model clearly shows a close association between subduction zones and high conductivity, and the simplest explanation is water,'' said Professor Adam Schultz, from Oregon State University in the US, who co-led the study published in the journal Nature.
    Colleague Professor Gary Egbert, also at Oregon State, added: ''In fact, we don't really know how much water there is on Earth. There is some evidence that there is many times more water below the ocean floor than there is in all the oceans of the world combined. Our results may shed some light on this question.''
    Other possible reasons for enhanced conductivity in the mantle include raised levels of iron or carbon, said the researchers.
    The presence of water could also be explained in different ways.
    ''If it isn't being subducted down with the plates, how did it get there?'' said Prof Schultz. ''Is it primordial, down there for four billion years? Or did it indeed come down as the plates slowly subduct, suggesting that the planet may have been much wetter a long time ago? These are fascinating questions, for which we do not yet have answers.''
    The scientists used three decades of magnetic field soundings made by more than 100 Earth observatories to construct their map.
    Next they hope to repeat the study with more recent data both from ground bases and satellites.
     
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  3. brokenpower Registered Senior Member

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    and then?
     
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  5. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    24,690
    I wish everyone would stop using that phrase. It makes it sound like it's okay if you decide you don't believe it.

    If it's a hypothesis that has already been tested adequately, peer reviewed, and proven true beyond a reasonable doubt, then we should just say, "Scientists have discovered that..."

    If it's a hypothesis that has not yet been settled, then we should say, "Scientists are investigating evidence suggesting that..."
    This popped up in the news three or four years ago. Since it's been predicted that the wars of the future will be fought over water rather than petroleum or other resources, it's comforting to discover sources that are accessible with modern drilling technology. The article said that a deep deposit had been found with enough water to supply the entire planet for something like a century.

    Unfortunately, it's under Iraq.
     
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  7. GeoffP Caput gerat lupinum Valued Senior Member

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    Which sceantists believe this?
     
  8. Michael 歌舞伎 Valued Senior Member

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    20,285
    that's interesting ... is it true?
     
  9. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    24,690
    I haven't seen any follow-up articles.
     
  10. madanthonywayne Morning in America Registered Senior Member

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    12,461
    Is that a joke? Surely those jokers couldn't have the luck to be sitting on top of another gold mine ready to tap just when their first one starts to run low!
     
  11. Ophiolite Valued Senior Member

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    9,232
    Excuse me.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

    There are two possibilities:
    1) You are talking about a deep aquifer in the crust and therefore introducing a completely off-topic comment that has nothing whatsoever to do with water in the mantle.
    2) You are talking about a water 'reservoir' in the mantle. This would be on topic, but would also be pretty much beyond today's drilling technology.

    So which of the two errors were you making? (Or did I miss a third option?)
     
  12. ejderha Exhausted Registered Senior Member

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    648
    That's really interesting. I wonder what kind of micro organisms live in it. May be some we haven't coincided before. Water is always good news.
     
  13. D H Some other guy Valued Senior Member

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    2,257
    Next time you "write" a post that you in fact did not write give due credit. We have rules against plagiarism. You did read the rules, didn't you?

    Next, do not quote the whole blasted article. Give a summary and a link instead. Something like this:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/6057382/Vast-oceans-lay-beneath-surface-of-the-Earth.html
    Finally, don't just quote the article. What do you think it means?


    That is what a stupid newspaper article said. The scientists in question did not say that. Here is what they said:
    http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v460/n7258/full/nature08257.html
    Here is a better article on the subject that does not use the stupid phrase "scientists believe":
    http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/water-mantle-may-be-associated-subduction-24250.html
     
  14. GeoffP Caput gerat lupinum Valued Senior Member

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    22,087
    Scientists believe you're too critical.
     
  15. Ophiolite Valued Senior Member

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    9,232
    Can you back up that claim with a citation from a peer reviewed journal?
     
  16. GeoffP Caput gerat lupinum Valued Senior Member

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    22,087
    Journal of Irreproducible Results?

    Of course, I'm sure you'll say that isn't actually peer reviewed. But I was reading it in the bathroom just the other day.
     
  17. Ophiolite Valued Senior Member

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    9,232
    well,that's Ok then.

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  18. GeoffP Caput gerat lupinum Valued Senior Member

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    But of course.

    I only read it for the articles on sceance, though.
     
  19. tuberculatious Banned Banned

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    987
    I'm an accountant and I don't know what scientists believe, but as an accountant it is clear that the books don't match. there is water missing.

    says enuff i would say.
     
  20. GeoffP Caput gerat lupinum Valued Senior Member

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    22,087
    You would say that, wouldn't you?
     
  21. tuberculatious Banned Banned

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    987
    a skeptical scientist would agree with me. and several people with doctor degrees do.
     
  22. ScaryMonster I’m the whispered word. Valued Senior Member

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    1,074
    Of course its true didn’t you ever see “Journey to the center of the Earth”! There’s also dinosaurs down there!
     
  23. Grim_Reaper I Am Death Destroyer of Worlds Registered Senior Member

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    1,349
    Dont forget the glowing plants and birds.
     

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