Few corners are left on the planet where humans can enjoy the landscape that can benefit them enormously like the Dead Sea. Its high concentration of salt prevents marine life from existing in it, but provides great relief to those suffering from any ailment. Although this incredible place might have its days numbered.
A team of experts from the Geological Survey of Israel and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, with the collaboration of other professionals from different countries, have found evidence of extreme aridity in the depths of the Dead Sea, which could indicate a future major change in the landscape if temperatures continue to rise.
The study, which has been published in the journal »Earth and Planetary Science Letters», is based on the amount of salt in the form of halite, which is a sedimentary mineral that forms when salt water evaporates, which has been found in the saline cores of sediments extracted 450 meters from the seabed (about 1.150 meters from the surface). As the researchers explain, halite only rushes when the water level is low.
After checking the age and formation period of the fragments, they were able to find out that the level of the Dead Sea dropped dramatically during two glacial periods: the first between about 115.000 and 130.000 years ago, and the second about 10.000 years ago. During these intervals the level dropped almost 500 meters, and it stayed that way sometimes for decades.
The temperature rose more than 4 degrees above the average in the XNUMXth century, which is what scientists believe will happen again in this century. Unfortunately, nothing can be done to stop the process, »climate models predict greater aridity in the region»The researchers said.
You can read the study here.