Huge Salt Water "Ocean" Found Beneath Chinese Desert

[zoobyshoe]

http://www.ibtimes.com/hidden-ocean...asin-larger-five-great-lakes-combined-2031541

Chinese scientists have discovered what could potentially be a massive hidden ocean underneath the Tarim basin in northwestern Xinjiang, China, the South China Morning Post reported. The basin is one of the driest places on Earth, but the amount of salt water hidden underneath could equal 10 times the amount of water found in all five of the Great Lakes located in the U.S.

Li’s team had accidentally discovered the water; they had actually been looking for carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide can be absorbed in certain regions called “carbon sinks,” and scientists study those “carbon sinks” to better understand climate change. Li’s team had discovered 10 years that carbon dioxide had been disappearing into the basin, but could not understand why.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

A hidden ocean? So it's like a cave system or is it just a huge water table?

 

[SteamKing]

Ten times the amount of water found in all five Great Lakes is no drop in the bucket either.

But, as they say, you always find something in the last place you look.

 

[Bystander]

http://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthwherewater.html

 

[Evo]

Also in Africa.

'Huge' water resource exists under Africa

Scientists say the notoriously dry continent of Africa is sitting on a vast reservoir of groundwater.

They argue that the total volume of water in aquifers underground is 100 times the amount found on the surface.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17775211

 

[zoobyshoe]

A hidden ocean? So it's like a cave system or is it just a huge water table?

I don't think it's caves, but I'm not sure what the alternatives to that are. Aquifer? Wet sand?

The means whereby they are estimating the amount strike me as very indirect. I wouldn't be surprised if other teams came up with quite different estimates as time goes by.
In any event, I don't think this water is easily usable by people. The main interest here is it's function as a "carbon sink."