Ancient Aquifer Unearthed: Italy’s Monumental Fossil Water Reservoir
A recent publication in the journal Communications Earth & Environment unveiled the presence of an immense underground reservoir of freshwater beneath the Iblean Mountains in Sicily. This ancient aquifer, believed by researchers to be possibly six million years old, holds an estimated quantity of 17.5 km3 of water, equivalent to twice the volume of Loch Ness.
According to El Confidencial, the revelation of this water reservoir, situated between 700 and 2,500 meters below the Earth’s surface, stems from a collaborative research effort involving scientists from the universities of Malta, Rome III, and Bologna.
Maps
The team of researchers utilized maps and data initially gathered for oil exploration to develop 3D models that facilitated the discovery of the vast water reservoir.
The researchers speculate that the formation of this freshwater reservoir is closely linked to the ‘Messinian Salinity Crisis,’ a geological event that took place between 5.96 and 5.33 million years ago.
During this period, there was a significant buildup of salt at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, caused by the closure of the Strait of Gibraltar, leading to its almost complete desiccation.
The crisis concluded with the so-called ‘Zanclean Deluge,’ a cataclysmic flood that refilled the Mediterranean, triggered by the reopening of the strait.
This discovery holds particular significance, considering the vulnerability of the Mediterranean basin to climate change.
The area is gradually becoming warmer and more arid, raising concerns about the future availability of potable water, and the current drought plaguing the region further underscores the urgency of the situation.
According to the researchers, this vast and well-preserved underground water source may potentially serve as a fresh water reservoir in regions experiencing scarcity, such as Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, and Lebanon.
The study authors emphasize that with the current available technology, there are now feasible means to explore and utilize water reserves at such depths, providing a beacon of hope for regions affected by water scarcity.
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