American scientists from the University of Texas at Austin have found a giant water reservoir about 3.2 km deep off the coast of New Zealand. The underground “sea” is found in the sediments and rocks of a lost volcanic plateau. To work published In the scientific journal Science Advances.
The place where water was discovered is located in a large volcanic formation that was formed 125 million years ago when a lava cloud the size of the United States exploded onto the Earth’s surface. This event was one of the largest volcanic eruptions and lasted several million years.
Using seismic scanning, scientists created a 3D map of an ancient volcanic plateau. They discovered thick-layered sediments surrounding buried volcanoes. After examining core samples, geologists concluded that water makes up half the volume of the rock.
Researchers suggested that the crust at the site of the eruptions first became porous and began to store water like an aquifer, and then turned into clay, holding more liquid.
Experts believe that underground water deposits make it possible to relieve tectonic stress on the New Zealand fault through slow earthquakes, in which parts of the earth’s crust move slowly and gradually release seismic energy.
Previously in the Pacific to create an oasis of hot liquid oozing from below.