<p>A &quot;true subterranean ocean&quot; would suggest a vast amount of liquid water in the mantle. This is most probably not present, for which there are a number of clues.</p>
<p>First of all, when looking at the temperature (~2000K) and pressure (~20GPa) in the transition zone and look at a phase diagram for water it is clear water can't exist as a liquid even though the temperature isn't visible in the diagram. The exact phase isn't clear, it could be a solid or a supercritical liquid.
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0LHdA.gif" alt="" /></p>
<p>A second clue is in seismology. Earthquakes produce two types of waves, P-type and S-type, of which only the first can propagate through liquids, see for example <a href="http://www.iris.edu/hq/programs/education_and_outreach/animations/18" rel="noreferrer">this page</a>. As a large body of liquid would produce a large shadow in seismic reflections, and these aren't well known (apart from the outer-core-shadow), it is unlikely there is much liquid water in the mantle.</p>
<p>Also, note that the water in ringwoodite isn't present as water molecules, but as hydrogen and oxygen ions, according to wikipedia.</p>
<p>Therefore, if there is indeed an ocean's worth of water present in the mantle transition zone, it will be there as a solid, which in my opinion can't be called a subterranean ocean.</p>
<p>Phase diagram for water from: <a href="http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/phase.html" rel="noreferrer">http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/phase.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-05T08:21:26.610Z
I am not sure if a H2O phase diagram can predict the state of water in the mantle. With all those other chemical components present it seems more likely that it will be in melt- or solid solution with other phases.
tobias47n9e
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-05T08:22:54.073Z
@Spießbürger even more arguments against the presence of a subterranean ocean ;)
hugovdberg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-15T09:32:52.323Z
The part about how water actually exists in ringwoodite should be the highlight of this question, not a small note towards the end.
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-05T06:47:22.183Z
2014-05-05T06:47:22.183Z
2020-06-18T08:25:19.090Z
hugovdberg
<p>Appears that the answer is that it is highly likely that the water that the ringwoodite minerals point to is an "ocean's worth" of water, not a true subterranean ocean.  </p>

<p><strong>Do ringwoodite minerals point to an "ocean's worth" of water, or a true subterranean ocean?</strong></p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7K3AD.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<ocean><groundwater>
Do ringwoodite minerals point to an "ocean's worth" of water, or a true subterranean ocean?
blunders
# Do ringwoodite minerals point to an "ocean's worth" of water, or a true subterranean ocean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-05-05)

Appears that the answer is that it is highly likely that the water that the ringwoodite minerals point to is an "ocean's worth" of water, not a true subterranean ocean.

**Do ringwoodite minerals point to an "ocean's worth" of water, or a true subterranean ocean?**

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/7K3AD.jpg)

**Tags:** ocean, groundwater


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-05-05. Score: 15 | Accepted answer

A "true subterranean ocean" would suggest a vast amount of liquid water in the mantle. This is most probably not present, for which there are a number of clues.

First of all, when looking at the temperature (~2000K) and pressure (~20GPa) in the transition zone and look at a phase diagram for water it is clear water can't exist as a liquid even though the temperature isn't visible in the diagram. The exact phase isn't clear, it could be a solid or a supercritical liquid.
![](https://i.sstatic.net/0LHdA.gif)

A second clue is in seismology. Earthquakes produce two types of waves, P-type and S-type, of which only the first can propagate through liquids, see for example [this page](http://www.iris.edu/hq/programs/education_and_outreach/animations/18). As a large body of liquid would produce a large shadow in seismic reflections, and these aren't well known (apart from the outer-core-shadow), it is unlikely there is much liquid water in the mantle.

Also, note that the water in ringwoodite isn't present as water molecules, but as hydrogen and oxygen ions, according to wikipedia.

Therefore, if there is indeed an ocean's worth of water present in the mantle transition zone, it will be there as a solid, which in my opinion can't be called a subterranean ocean.

Phase diagram for water from: <http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/phase.html>

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I am not sure if a H2O phase diagram can predict the state of water in the mantle. With all those other chemical components present it seems more likely that it will be in melt- or solid solution with other phases.  
> **username_1**: @Spießbürger even more arguments against the presence of a subterranean ocean ;)  
> **username_3**: The part about how water actually exists in ringwoodite should be the highlight of this question, not a small note towards the end.  

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