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- TL;DR Summary
- Much of the Mediterranean Sea dried up at one time.
That Time the Mediterranean Sea Disappeared
- Thread starter Astronuc
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In summary, PBS Eons on KCTS discusses the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC), a geological event that occurred during the Messinian age of the Miocene epoch, from 5.96 to 5.33 million years ago. This event caused the Mediterranean Sea to partially or nearly completely dry up. It ended with the Zanclean flood, when the Atlantic Ocean reclaimed the basin. Views differ on whether this filling occurred gradually or catastrophically fast. Evidence of fast, catastrophic floods can be seen in glacial dam bursts in lakes Bonneville and Missoula, and the filling of the Black Sea. The article also mentions the formation of the English Channel and the impressive scale of Ice Age floods, such as
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BWV
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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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Keith_McClary
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See the "To Flood or Not to Flood" section here.BWV said:
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BillTre
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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
https://www.nature.com/articles/news070716-11
from: https://www.science.org/news/2017/0...mendous-ice-age-waterfalls-cut-britain-europe
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phyzguy
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Dry Falls in eastern Washington state in the US is an impressive reminder of the scale of these Ice Age floods. I would have loved to see the flood that re-filled the Mediterranean.
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anorlunda
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http://www.dukelabs.com/Publications/PubsPdf/CM2003_NarrowsFlood.pdf
Likewise for The Narrows under the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge in New York City. The flood was
the draining of Glacial Lake Albany.
Likewise for The Narrows under the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge in New York City. The flood was
the draining of Glacial Lake Albany.
1. What caused the Mediterranean Sea to disappear?
The Mediterranean Sea did not actually disappear. It is a fictional event that was created as a thought experiment to explore the potential impacts of a major geological event.
2. Could the disappearance of the Mediterranean Sea actually happen?
While it is highly unlikely that the entire Mediterranean Sea would disappear, there have been instances in the past where smaller bodies of water have dried up due to geological events such as tectonic shifts or changes in sea level. However, it is not a likely scenario in the near future.
3. What would be the consequences of the Mediterranean Sea disappearing?
The consequences would be catastrophic for the surrounding regions. The loss of a major body of water would lead to drastic changes in the climate, agriculture, and ecosystems. It would also have major economic impacts on industries such as fishing and tourism.
4. How would the disappearance of the Mediterranean Sea affect other parts of the world?
The disappearance of the Mediterranean Sea would have global impacts. The sudden change in sea level would affect coastlines around the world, potentially causing flooding in some areas and drought in others. It could also disrupt ocean currents and weather patterns, leading to further environmental consequences.
5. Is there any way to prevent the Mediterranean Sea from disappearing?
As the disappearance of the Mediterranean Sea is a fictional scenario, there is no need for prevention. However, in the event of a similar real-life situation, there may be measures that could potentially mitigate the consequences. These could include implementing sustainable practices to reduce the effects of climate change and investing in disaster preparedness and response strategies.
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