Beneath our planet's surface lie not only treasures but
also a genuine geological horror capable of destroying
the world, reminiscent of the biblical times of Noah.
Ice crystals of methane hydrates, where methane is locked
within water under high pressure and low temperature,
blanket the ocean floor.
These planetary time bombs pose a threat to all life on
Earth. A slight local heating, a powerful earthquake,
or a meteorite impact can disrupt this fragile equilibrium,
causing the hydrates to immediately decompose. After all
methane is then released to the surface, potentially
sinking ships, igniting the ocean, or even causing nuclear
submarines to be swallowed by the abyss. But that is not
all. In the 1970s, Australian geologist Ted Ringwood
discovered something even more sinister: ringwoodite,
a simple mineral - magnesium silicate (Mg2SiO4) - which
absorbs water like a sponge and is located at depths within
the Earth's mantle. According to scientists, its quantity
is comparable to that of olivine, another silicate mineral.
As a result, the amount of underground water stored in
ringwoodite is equivalent to 20-40 times the volume of
Earth's oceans. Ringwoodite functions as a water reservoir
of our planet, trapped beneath the surface. However, under
certain conditions - such as an asteroid impact, volcanic
eruption, pole shift, or core disturbances - ringwoodite
can automatically release this water. The water then rushes
toward the surface. Even a mere 0.1% release of this water
could trigger a global flood. This not only provides a
scientific explanation for the biblical and Mesopotamian
stories of a worldwide deluge but also serves as evidence
of humanity's potential for self-destruction. The issue
is that modern underground nuclear test tunnels are so deep
that high-yield nuclear explosions could destabilize the
fragile mantle where ringwoodite resides, with its enormous
water reserves. Such tests could provoke not only a localized
flood but also shake the ocean floor, causing the
decomposition of methane hydrates. This could transform
at least part of the planet into a blazing, fiery sea due
to a chain reaction. Since many volcanic flows are located
deep underground, such an explosion could awaken magma
hambers.
Waves generated by this event would reduce pressure in these
chambers, potentially triggering unexpected eruptions and
tsunamis worldwide. Overall, it no longer matters whether
these explosions are underground or underwater. After
decades of testing, our planet is in a precarious state
due to the abundance of natural methane trapped beneath
water and permafrost.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Shipwrecks & Shibboleths [San Francisco, CA - USA] (700:100/72)