Hidden Ocean Beneath Earth's Crust Holds More Water Than Surface

Scientists have discovered a massive water mass, named the Atlantic Equatorial Water, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, extending from Brazil to the Gulf of Guinea. This discovery, made possible by data from the Argo programme, fills a gap in understanding oceanic water masses, as similar equatorial waters were previously identified in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The finding enhances knowledge of ocean mixing, crucial for understanding global heat, oxygen, and nutrient transport.