New undersea freshwater aquifer mapped

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In summary, a new and previously unknown undersea freshwater aquifer has been mapped off the Northeast coast of the U.S. It contains as much water as Lake Ontario and could potentially help alleviate future water shortages.
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New and previously unknown undersea freshwater aquifer mapped.

Nature article
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44611-7#author-information
Scientific Reports link: (paywall)
Scientific Reports (2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44611-7

Phys.org summary:
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-scientists-huge-undersea-fresh-water-aquifer.html
A huge unknown undersea (mostly) freshwater aquifer has been mapped. Located off the Northeast coast of the U.S. The aquifer contains approximately as much water as Lake Ontario. It was formed from glacial melt. Soils covered the area deeply . The aquifer begins at about 186m below the seabed surface, so it is accessible by existing drilling technology.

Per the article at Phys.org:

There is a good chance that more of these formations occur off other coastal areas of other continents. Many
places have started to run out of freshwater, and these aquifers may serve to alleviate some of the coming
water shortage problems.
 
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jim mcnamara said:
New and previously unknown undersea freshwater aquifer mapped.
Well, that is a freshwater storage system I was unaware ofthanks
Dave
 
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Wow, this is amazing news! It's incredible that such a large and previously unknown freshwater aquifer exists right off the coast of the U.S. This could have huge implications for managing water resources in the future, especially as many areas are facing water shortages. I'm also intrigued by the possibility of similar formations existing off other coastal areas around the world. Thanks for sharing this article and information!
 

1. What is a freshwater aquifer?

A freshwater aquifer is a layer of permeable rock or sediment that contains water, which can be extracted for human use.

2. How was the undersea freshwater aquifer mapped?

The undersea freshwater aquifer was mapped using a combination of satellite imagery, geophysical surveys, and drilling technology.

3. Where is the undersea freshwater aquifer located?

The undersea freshwater aquifer is located off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, stretching from the city of Tulum to the town of Playa del Carmen.

4. How big is the undersea freshwater aquifer?

The undersea freshwater aquifer is estimated to be about 2,900 square miles in size, making it one of the largest known underwater aquifers in the world.

5. What are the potential uses for the undersea freshwater aquifer?

The undersea freshwater aquifer could potentially be used for drinking water, irrigation, and other agricultural purposes. It could also be used to support marine life and ecosystems in the surrounding area.

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