Scientists have discovered that Earth's largest water reservoir lies hundreds of miles beneath the surface, stored within rocks in the form of hydroxyl radicals, surpassing the water volume in oceans, atmosphere, and ice caps combined.

A groundbreaking study published in Science by geophysicist Steve Jacobsen and seismologist Brandon Schmandt revealed that rocks at the upper mantle's base partially melt due to water trapped in ringwoodite, a mineral formed under extreme pressure and temperature.

The water movement occurs through plate tectonics, with water rising through volcanic activity and descending with oceanic crust beneath continents. In the mantle, the common surface mineral olivine transforms into ringwoodite, capable of holding 2.5% of its weight in water.

The "transition zone" between the upper and lower mantle contains an estimated one to three times the volume of Earth's oceans. This discovery suggests Earth may contain two to four times more water than previously calculated, significantly revising our understanding of the planet's total water content.

The water cycle involves complex interactions between these underground reservoirs and surface water, demonstrating an intricate system of water movement within Earth's various layers. This finding provides new insights into Earth's geological processes and water distribution patterns.

This discovery also offers potential explanations for biblical accounts of the Great Flood, suggesting that underground water sources, described as "fountains of the great deep," could have contributed to such an event. The research continues to expand our understanding of Earth's water systems and geological processes.

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