Kilometric sea level changes during the Messinian salinity crisis caused by river erosion and climate

Area of Science:

• Geology
• Paleoceanography
• Climate Science

Background:

• The Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) involved Mediterranean Sea isolation and significant salt deposition.
• Conflicting evidence exists regarding the extent of Mediterranean desiccation during the MSC.
• The Lago-Mare formation suggests fresher water conditions along coastlines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reconcile conflicting estimates of Mediterranean desiccation during the MSC.
• To explain the transition to fresher water conditions during the late MSC.
• To investigate the impact of continental erosion on Mediterranean sea level.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a landscape evolution model for the MSC drawdown stage.
• Constraining the model with paleoclimate data and sediment budgets.
• Analyzing retrogressive river incision along Paratethys and Pannonian basin spillways.

Main Results:

• Erosional wave propagation from continents caused gradual sea level rise.
• This rise was superimposed on Mediterranean climatic oscillations.
• River incision along spillways explains the observed desiccation extent and Lago-Mare formation.

Conclusions:

• Continental erosion played a key role in modulating Mediterranean sea level during the MSC.
• The model successfully explains the paradoxical sedimentary record of the MSC.
• A unified mechanism reconciles full desiccation and fresher water scenarios.