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.
Does this mean carbon fiber prices are going to come down now? /s
Yes, should be la Nina...
Whoops...
Thank you. 65Ma. Before my time!
Thats actually quite an interesting thought, drill to magma, it comes up through pipeline and used in a giant 3D printing type of machine that prints out the wall in liquid rock.
That’s a lot of dead elk.
Now they are finally getting around to figuring out where our infinite supply of oil is coming from.
Molten Carbon is a great name for a a rock band.
This is yet another horribly written article, with an author trying to sound knowledgeable. Carbonates such as limestone do not "melt" at normal atmospheric pressure: at high temperature limestone "decomposes" into (basically) lime (CaO) and CO2. Pushed hard enough lime will melt (around 4662 deg. F!) but this has nothing to do with molten carbon. However, carbonates can melt when at both high temperature and high pressure -- this is how marble is formed.
Carbon (as in coal) doesn't melt easily either, tho' I couldn't find much info. on what it might do under pressure. The question remains: Are there lakes of pre-marble down there? Or actual melted carbon?
Uh... It's underground - which is the whole point of the story.
Diamonds melt fairly easily, but I find it hard to believe there are huge lakes of melted diamonds well down in the mantle...
When you get right down to it, ANY of the mantle, released in “huge” quantities would be disastrous...
Perhaps, in the name of the environment, we should take over Mexico and make it a giant carbon offset. We could name it after Al Gore.
Then we would be able to fuel starships.
But how do you get lithium out of carbon and silicon?
Humans obtain every single carbon that humanity uses from natural sources. We merely get useful work from it before it goes back to nature.
Nobody has pointed out that it looks like a donkey?
Seriously...so what?
Carbon oxygen molecules shift from carbon dioxide to carbon trioxide (i.e. carbonate), depending on pH and other factors. You could say that carbonate is the salt or acid form of CO2.
Carbonate is an important molecule in our blood. It is produced by metabolism of larger biomolecules. When our blood becomes too acidic, we increase our breathing rate to exhale more CO2 and bring our blood pH back to neutral. When our blood is too caustic, our kidneys excrete more carbonate into the urine to neutralize blood pH.
An observer in a space time bubble might perceive the act of creation and experience it as “7” days!
Since it is over 200 miles below the surface I don’t think Elon Musk is going to go that far down. In fact, his Tesla would melt around the 15 mile deep marker...
Carbon such as graphite or coal when heated and pressurized makes artificial diamonds(zircons)!
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