Posted on 04/30/2017 8:38:09 PM PDT by shove_it
A huge well of molten carbon that would spell disaster for the planet if released has been found under the US.
Scientists using the world's largest array of seismic sensors have mapped a deep-Earth area, covering 700,000 sq miles (1.8 million sq km).
This is around the size of Mexico, and researchers say it has the potential to cause untold environmental damage. The discovery could change our understanding of how much carbon the Earth contains, suggesting it is much more than we previously believed.
It would be impossible to drill far enough down to physically 'see' the Earth's mantle, so a team of researchers used a massive group of sensors to paint a picture of it, using mathematical equations to interpret their results.
The study, conducted by geologists at Royal Holloway University in London, used a huge network of 583 seismic sensors that measure the Earth's vibrations, to create a picture of the area's deep sub surface.
Known as the upper mantle, this section of the Earth's interior is known for by its high temperatures where solid carbonates melt, creating distinctive seismic patterns.
What they found was a vast buried deposit of molten carbon, which produces carbon dioxide and other gases, situated under the Western US, 217 miles (350km) beneath the Earth's surface. As a result of this study, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, scientists now believe the amount of CO2 in the Earth's upper mantle may be up to 100 trillion metric tons.
In comparison, the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates the global carbon emission in 2011 was nearly 10 billion metric tons – a tiny amount in comparison.
The deep carbon reservoir discovered will eventually make its way to the surface through volcanic eruptions and contribute to climate change albeit very slowly, but a sudden release could have dire consequences.
Dr Sash Hier-Majumder of the University of London's Department of Earth Sciences led the study. He said: 'The residence time of this carbon in the mantle is relatively large (nearly 1 billion years), so this reserve is not an imminent threat.'
'But one important mechanism by which carbon, sinking into the mantle via a subducting oceanic plate, can make it's way back to the surface is by arc volcanism.'
'Arc volcanism returns between 30-40% of the total subducted carbon back into the atmosphere. The remaining carbon stays in the mantle for a much longer.'
He added: 'We might not think of the deep structure of the Earth as linked to climate change above us, but this discovery not only has implications for subterranean mapping but also for our future atmosphere,'
'For example, releasing only one per cent of this CO2 into the atmosphere will be the equivalent of burning 2.3 trillion barrels of oil.'
'The existence of such deep reservoirs show how important is the role of deep Earth in the global carbon cycle.' As a result of this study, scientists now believe the amount of CO2 in the Earth's upper mantle may be up to 100 trillion metric tons.
In comparison, the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates the global carbon emission in 2011 was nearly 10 billion metric tons – a tiny amount in comparison. The area covered by the study includes Yellowstone National Park, where previous research has uncovered evidence of a supervolcano which could also spell danger for the planet.
The volcano at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana sits atop a huge reserve of molten rock and last erupted 640,000 years ago.
It releases around 45,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide each day. If it were to erupt, it would be one thousand times as powerful as the 1980 Mount St Helens eruption and have the potential to blanket the US in a 'nuclear winter'.
While it has lain dormant for more than 70,000 years, scientists say that we can't rule out the possibility eruption this may some day take place - although they say the chances are extremely slim.
The Grand Prismatic hot spring in Yellowstone National Park is among the park's many hydrothermal features created by the Yellowstone supervolcano.
Experts say there is a one in 700,000 annual chance of a volcanic eruption at the site.
What if a much of a which of a solar wind... ?
OMG, what happens when the molten carbon and the melting frozen methane deposits under the ocean meet?????
Gaia lets off one hell of a fart?
This is also probably why oil is NOT made of “dead dinosaurs” and why mankind will never run out of oil.
Its also why trying to control mankind’s CO2 output is so stupid - like banning people from farting in a hurricane.
Yeah, it’s 200 miles underground. Not even a giant asteroid could release it. More nutty hysteria from the whacky left.
That's one heck of a Strategic #2 Pencil Reserve.
That would be a major headache.
We will pass the tipping point in one billion years. We must act now!
Perhaps a rock hit it.
I keep trying to explain the difference between chaos and entropy (countable v. uncountable), and it is not working.
Perhaps I should stop.
geologists felt left out of the global-climate-warming-change funding and headlines bonanza, and found a way to cash in.
Oh, it might all be dead dinosaurs (and other biomass), but what we think is earth’s dead dinosaur deposits might be only a small percentage of the whole.
The problem with a putative carbon and hydrogen reaction is, where did the hydrogen come from? If from water, where does the oxygen go? No chance it gets driven off as free oxygen. It’d immediately react.
Is the Earth a big nuclear reactor? Is that the reason there is molten rock at the center even after billions of years?
Some radioactive decay still is believed to go on there, e.g. thorium. That keeps the core, that is mostly iron, liquid. Weird. We’re sitting on a dirt-and-water crust on a big molten radioactive iron ball. And it doesn’t just sizzle off.
700,000:1 odds?!? Way better odds than winning the Lotto!
What is “hogwash” the study, the conclusions, is it political science? The Warmers really don’t want to talk about volcanoes since just the ones erupting put so much crap in the air that it causes global COOLING.
I find it interesting that Yellowstone is close to the center of the pool.
Can somebody tell me, what the atmoshpreric o2 levels have been for the last 200 years?
I believe that humans contribute about 5% of the “Greenhouse Gases” so the rest is from natural sources.
Now you are speculating. You don’t know that we have an iron core - it might be uranium.
liquid diamond
"...Earth's interior is known for by its high temperatures where solid carbonates melt, creating distinctive seismic patterns."
The whole thing is a bit incoherent.
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