Newly Discovered Layer Deep Within the Earth
Scientists may have found the hiding place of Earth's first-ever ocean.
Deep within Earth's mantle, 3,000 km below our feet, there is an enigmatic layer of material called "layer D" that has long puzzled scientists.
Layer D is not uniform, with alternating thin and thick patches, akin to the rugged topography of an ocean floor. New research now suggests that it may have once been an undiscovered ocean.
An Ancient Ocean on Earth's Surface
The ocean would have existed on Earth's surface billions of years ago, like the five oceans we have today.
According to Science Alert, the research team led by data scientist Qingyang Hu from the Beijing High-Pressure Science and Technology Research Center (HPSTAR) believe this ancient ocean wasn't made of water, but rather water-rich magma.
It could be Earth's first ocean, a 'super deadly ocean' during the Hadean Eon, a time when the young Earth was a blazing hot ball and devoid of life.
Chemical Processes in the Magma Ocean
Chemical processes within this ocean led to the accumulation of iron-rich materials, giving the ocean floor the uneven terrain that is now reflected in layer D.
The ocean may have been formed from the hypothesized impact between early Earth and the planet Theia 4.5 billion years ago, an event that also created the Moon.
Challenges of Studying the Distant Past
Of course, looking back so far into the past is incredibly difficult, and there is still much scientific debate about what lies beneath Earth's surface and how it got there.
Scientists hope that new technological advances in the future will help pin this down, allowing us to visualize early Earth and better understand the tumultuous changes that led to the emergence of life.