That Time the Mediterranean Sea Disappeared

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SUMMARY

The Mediterranean Sea underwent significant desiccation during the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC), which occurred from 5.96 to 5.33 million years ago. This geological event, also known as the Lago Mare event, concluded with the Zanclean flood, where the Atlantic Ocean reclaimed the basin. The discussion highlights the contrasting views on the nature of flooding events, such as the rapid filling of the Black Sea and the catastrophic floods from glacial dam bursts in lakes Bonneville and Missoula. Evidence from seabed features supports the mega-flood scenario for the formation of the English Channel.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of geological time scales, specifically the Miocene epoch.
  • Familiarity with the Messinian salinity crisis and its implications.
  • Knowledge of glacial geology, including the effects of glacial dam bursts.
  • Awareness of flood geology and its role in shaping landforms.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the geological implications of the Zanclean flood and its impact on the Mediterranean basin.
  • Explore the evidence supporting the mega-flood hypothesis in the formation of the English Channel.
  • Study the characteristics and consequences of the Messinian salinity crisis in detail.
  • Investigate the geological features formed by Ice Age floods, such as Dry Falls in Washington state.
USEFUL FOR

Geologists, paleoclimatologists, and anyone interested in the geological history of the Mediterranean region and the effects of ancient flooding events.

Astronuc
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TL;DR
Much of the Mediterranean Sea dried up at one time.
PBS Eons on KCTS

https://www.kcts9.org/show/eons/episode/that-time-the-mediterranean-sea-disappeared-esieyi

The Messinian salinity crisis (MSC), also referred to as the Messinian event, and in its latest stage as the Lago Mare event, was a geological event during which the Mediterranean Sea went into a cycle of partial or nearly complete desiccation (drying-up) throughout the latter part of the Messinian age of the Miocene epoch, from 5.96 to 5.33 Ma (million years ago). It ended with the Zanclean flood, when the Atlantic reclaimed the basin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messinian_salinity_crisis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanclean_flood

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messinian

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miocene
 
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With the glacial dam bursts in lakes Bonneville & Missoula, clear evidence exists of a fast, catastrophic flood. With this and the later filling of the Black Sea, views differ on whether the filling occurred catastrophically fast or was a more gradual process - am guessing therefore that the type of geologic flood scarring you see in Idaho would be, what - buried under sediment, or eroded by water?
 
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BWV said:
views differ
See the "To Flood or Not to Flood" section here.
 
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Seabed features have been used in support of a mega-flood scenario for the formation of the English Channel.
https://www.nature.com/articles/news070716-11

from: https://www.science.org/news/2017/0...mendous-ice-age-waterfalls-cut-britain-europe

Screen Shot 2021-09-30 at 12.52.21 PM.png
 
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