A massive lake of molten carbon the size of Mexico is discovered under the US, and it could cause climate CHAOS
- Located in the Western us, 217 miles (350km) below the surface of the Earth
- Scientists have used more world wide variety of sensors seismic to map the area
- Carbon cast covers an area of 700 000 miles square (1.8 million square kilometres)
- Upper mantle can contain up to 100 trillion tonnes of melted carbon
- Its discovery disputes that the researchers took about how carbon is trapped in the Interior of the planet
Scientists to help more of the world diversity of seismic sensors have mapped a deep area of the Earth, 700 000 miles square (1.8 million square kilometres).
It is around the size of the Mexico, and researchers say it has the potential to cause damage to the environment.
The discovery could change our understanding of how carbon contains the Earth, suggesting that it is much more than expected.
It is around the size of the Mexico, and researchers say it has the potential to cause damage to the environment.
The discovery could change our understanding of how carbon contains the Earth, suggesting that it is much more than expected.
Found a huge melted carbon sinks which would mean disaster for the planet, if it is rejected in the United States (stock image)
Scientists uncovered a huge reservoir of molten carbon situated under the Western US, 217 miles (350km) beneath the Earth's surface
It would be impossible to drill far down enough to physically 'see' the mantle of the Earth, so a team of researchers used a huge 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 of London, used a vast network of 583 seismic sensors that measure vibrations of the Earth, to create a deep surface sup image of the region.
Known as the upper mantle, this section of the Interior of the Earth is known for its high temperature where solid carbonates melt, creating distinctive seismic models.
They find a large deposit buried carbon melted, which produces the dioxide of carbon and other gases, was located in the West of the United States, 217 miles (350km) below the surface of the Earth.
Following this study, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, scientists now believe that the amount of CO2 in the upper mantle of the earth can be up to 100 trillion metric tons.
In comparison, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that global carbon emissions in 2011 were almost 10 billion tonnes - a tiny amount in comparison.
The discovered deep carbon reservoir will eventually make its way to the surface by volcanic eruptions and contribute to climate change, albeit very slowly, but a sudden release could have disastrous consequences.
The study, conducted by geologists at Royal Holloway, used a huge network of 583 seismic sensors (stock image)
He told Mail Online: '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.'
Following this study, scientists now believe that the amount of CO2 in the upper mantle of the earth can be up to 100 trillion metric tons.
In comparison, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that global carbon emissions in 2011 were almost 10 billion tonnes -a tiny amount in comparison.
The area covered by the study includes Yellowstone National Park, where previous research has found evidence of a supervolcano that could also mean for the planet.
The volcano at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montanais located on top of a huge reserve of rock fusion and recent eruptions 640 000 years.
It releases about 45 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every day.
If it were to burst, it would be a thousand times as powerful as the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption and have the potential to cover in theUnited States in a "nuclear winter".
While it has been idle for more than 70,000 years, scientists say thatwe cannot exclude the possibility eruption that would one day take place - although they say that the chances are extremely slim.
The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is one of several hydrothermal features of the Park created by the Yellowstone supervolcano.
Experts say that there is a chance of 1 to 700 000 annual from a volcanic eruption on the site.
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