Refilling the Mediterranean

Research has revealed details of the catastrophic Zanclean flood that refilled the Mediterranean Sea more than five million years ago.

The flood occurred when Atlantic waters found their way into the cut-off and desiccated Mediterranean basin . . .

In a period ranging from a few months to two years, the scientists say that 90% of the water was transferred into the basin.

"This extremely abrupt flood may have involved peak rates of sea level rise in the Mediterranean of more than 10m per day," he and his colleagues wrote in the Nature paper.

This is a much faster rate of flow than many had thought. What a sight it must have been! From the BBC.

Posted by David on December 10, 2009 8:23 AM