Huge freshwater reserves beneath the ocean

  • Thread starter Greg Bernhardt
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In summary, scientists have discovered an estimated half a million cubic kilometers of freshwater reserves buried beneath the ocean floor. This water could be used to help alleviate the strains put on coastal cities by growing populations. However, there are concerns that if the water is pumped out, it could become more saline and have negative consequences for the environment.
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Scientists discover huge freshwater reserves beneath the ocean
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131208085304.htm

A new study, published December 5 in the international scientific journal Nature, reveals that an estimated half a million cubic kilometers of low-salinity water are buried beneath the seabed on continental shelves around the world.
The water, which could perhaps be used to eke out supplies to the world's burgeoning coastal cities, has been located off Australia, China, North America and South Africa.
 
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Greg Bernhardt said:
Scientists discover huge freshwater reserves beneath the ocean
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131208085304.htm

As always, the Devil is in the details. How saline is "low-salinity". Desalinization plants using ordinary saline sea water are in use all over the world. Would the decrease in salinity of this sub-surface supply produce enough savings to compensate for the added expense of drilling and pumping?
 
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I also wonder if another problem might be that pumping large amounts of water out of such areas might cause collapse that would harm coastal cities, if the areas are close to the shore edge of the shelf. Just a thought.
 
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phinds said:
I also wonder if another problem might be that pumping large amounts of water out of such areas might cause collapse that would harm coastal cities, if the areas are close to the shore edge of the shelf. Just a thought.

Since the deposits are underwater, I think it more likely that sea pressure would simply force sea water into replace the withdrawn less-saline water. For the most part, our continental shelf is fairly porous. It would have to be, to hold the less saline water.
 
  • #5
Area of continental land masses is ca. 150 million sq. km.; area of continental shelves is ca. 4 million; volume of ground water is estimated to be 20 million cu. km. (give or take) --- half million in shelf aquifers is about right. Who wants to tell us there are no marine organisms that depend on fresh water seeps, springs, or other seafloor outlets?
 
  • #6
klimatos said:
Since the deposits are underwater, I think it more likely that sea pressure would simply force sea water into replace the withdrawn less-saline water. For the most part, our continental shelf is fairly porous. It would have to be, to hold the less saline water.

Good point. It would imply another problem though, which is that as fresh water is drawn out it would be replaced by seawater, thus leading to greater salination of the fresh water. At first that wouldn't be a problem, but it could become one.
 

What are "Huge freshwater reserves beneath the ocean"?

"Huge freshwater reserves beneath the ocean" refer to large deposits of fresh water that are found beneath the seabed, also known as submarine groundwater. These reserves are formed from rainwater and rivers that flow underground and are trapped beneath layers of sediment and rock.

Where are these reserves located?

These reserves are found all over the world, mostly in coastal areas where there is a high amount of rainfall and rivers that flow into the ocean. They can also be found in areas where there are underground aquifers that connect to the ocean.

How do these reserves form?

These reserves form through a process known as sedimentary burial. As layers of sediment and rock accumulate on top of the freshwater source, it becomes trapped and isolated from the rest of the ocean, preserving its freshness.

How much freshwater is stored beneath the ocean?

It is estimated that there is more than 10 trillion cubic meters of freshwater stored beneath the ocean, which is about 100 times the amount of all the world's rivers combined.

Can we access and use these reserves?

Yes, it is possible to access and use these reserves through drilling and pumping techniques. However, it is important to carefully manage and monitor these reserves to avoid contamination and depletion of the freshwater source.

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