Scientists uncover ‘secret’ freshwater reserve beneath deep Atlantic Ocean

Scientists have recently discovered an enigmatic and hidden reserve of freshwater stretching along the US East Coast which is located deep beneath the North Atlantic Ocean seabed.

This unprecedented discovery is associated with an expedition carried out by the US government 50 years ago in an effort to find hydrocarbons and minerals.

As the researchers drilled into the ocean seabed and inadvertently they tapped into the fresh water.

Based on the initial expedition, another global research expedition, Expedition 501, drilled into Cape Cod’s seawaters and stumbled upon a massive and secret fresh water reservoir stretching from New Jersey to Maine.

Co-chief scientist, Brandon Dugan, considers the recently discovered reserve of “secret fresh water” as one of reservoirs to exist in shallow salty waters that could tackle growing water scarcity in the world.

“We need to look for every possibility we have to find more water for society,” Dugan, a geophysicist and hydrologist at the Colorado School of Mines said.

The scientists looked in “one of the last places you would probably look for fresh water on Earth.”

As the result of drilling, the team extracted thousands of freshwater samples. The researchers will also analyse 50,000 litres of water collected around the world to solve the mystery of its origins.

Given the dearth of freshwater, it is important to solve the enigma of the potential aquifer. According to the UN, in the coming years, the global demand for fresh water will increase by 40 percent.