Terraqua Reclamation Theory: A Hypothesis on Subsurface Desalination and Geothermally Driven Freshwater Regeneration and Their Effect on Tectonic Plate Movement
Creators: name: De Beer, Reyno
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: geothermal water cycle
subject: subsurface desalination
subject: Sea water desalination
subject: Water regeneration
subject: Plate tectonics
subject: tectonic lubrication
subject: Spring (hydrology, land)
subject: deep earth hydrology
subject: Terraqua Reclamation
subject: Filtration/methods
subject: Water Cycle
subject: Aquifer
subject: aquifer alignment
subject: continental drift
subject: Flood prevention
subject: Flood risk management
subject: geohydrological stabillity

description: Abstract:The Terraqua Reclamation Theory proposes a supplementary and largely overlooked natural mechanism within the Earth’s hydrological system, whereby seawater undergoes partial or complete desalination through deep subsurface processes, contributing to the regeneration and upward movement of fresh water. This theory suggests that seawater, driven by immense pressure and gravitational forces, infiltrates deep into the Earth’s crust and migrates towards high-temperature geothermal zones closer to the core. Upon reaching these depths, the seawater is subjected to extreme heat, initiating a twofold process:

(1) Natural distillation, where the H₂O component evaporates at around 100°C, separating from the mineral salts which require higher boiling points, and (2) Geological filtration, whereby mineral content is physically and chemically separated due to subterranean conditions.

These combined effects result in the creation of fresh water in both vapour and liquid form. The fresh water vapour ascends through subterranean channels, condensing into reservoirs or aquifers located beneath the Earth’s crust. These accumulations may resurface as fountains, springs, or become part of river systems, thereby contributing to a geothermally driven secondary water cycle that functions in parallel with the traditional precipitation-based hydrological cycle.

In addition to the core hypothesis, this theory further posits that a significant proportion of these freshwater aquifers may be located beneath oceanic basins. If so, their interaction with tectonic plates could play a vital role in continental movement. These aquifers may act as natural “lubricants”, facilitating the slow drift of continental plates over geological timescales. As tectonic plates shift, it is conceivable that these subterranean freshwater reserves align with landmasses above them, making it feasible for their contents to be tapped and harvested.

Moreover, the seawater’s ingress into the Earth’s mantle may occur not only via permeable channels but also through the opening layers of tectonic plate boundaries themselves. This would allow the seawater to reach geothermally active zones more directly, intensifying the subsurface desalination process. In turn, this influx of water into tectonic boundaries could reduce inter-plate friction, suggesting that portions of the Earth’s crust effectively “float” upon layers of geothermal freshwater — an additional consideration to existing plate tectonics models.

While the Terraqua Reclamation Theory does not conflict with the established scientific model of atmospheric water cycling or tectonic plate movement, it posits an additional natural subsystem that may explain freshwater sources not adequately accounted for, especially in regions with minimal rainfall yet persistent water flow. It invites interdisciplinary inquiry into hydrology, geology, and earth systems, and opens new scientific avenues into Earth’s deep hydrosphere and its potential as a stabilising, internal, and sustainable source of freshwater.

Importantly, the hypothesis also introduces a cautionary dimension: if substantial volumes of desalinated freshwater are accumulating beneath the crust without being released or managed, this could eventually reach a tipping point. Geological or tectonic disruptions might trigger the sudden displacement of vast quantities of this subsurface water, echoing historical accounts of a global deluge. The Biblical Great Flood and similar legends found in many ancient cultures could reflect an event of this nature. If such a phenomenon were to reoccur, the catastrophic consequences for modern civilisation would be unprecedented. Therefore, proactive investigation and long-term monitoring of subterranean water dynamics may be critical to global disaster risk mitigation and planetary water equilibrium.
description: Keywords: Geothermal water cycle, subsurface desalination, freshwater regeneration, tectonic lubrication, deep Earth hydrology, Terraqua Reclamation, natural filtration, secondary water cycle, aquifer alignment, continental drift, Great Flood, flood risk, geohydrological instability