Dense shelf water cascading and Messinian Canyons: A new scenario for the Mediterranean salinity crisis

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ID: 293596
2014
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Abstract
The salt giant beneath the deep Mediterranean seafloor is the impressive record of the "Messinian salinity crisis," a dramatic event that occurred about 6 Ma ago following the reduction of the connections with the Atlantic Ocean. According to the shallow-water deep-basin model, developed for these deposits ([Hsü and others, 1973a][1], [1973b][2], [1978a][3], [1978b][4]), the Messinian evaporites formed in a deep but desiccated Mediterranean, while shelves and slopes underwent subaerial erosion due to fluvial rejuvenation triggered by a 1500 m sea level drawdown. Deeply incised Messinian canyons in the continental slopes surrounding the Mediterranean are the main argument supporting this scenario. Using a state of the art model and idealized but realistic numerical simulations, here we demonstrate that the activation of downslope flows of hypersaline, dense waters, in a process similar to present-day "dense shelf water cascading," but much more energetic, may account for both slope erosion and progressive salinity rise leading to the formation of deep-seated supersaturated brines. Our findings support a deep-water deep-basin model ([Schmalz, 1969][5], [1991][6]; [De Benedetti, 1976][7], [1982][8]; [Dietz and Woodhouse, 1988][9]), thus implying that evaporite deposition may have occurred in a non-desiccated basin with strongly reduced ocean connections. [1]: #ref-57 [2]: #ref-58 [3]: #ref-59 [4]: #ref-60 [5]: #ref-103 [6]: #ref-104 [7]: #ref-26 [8]: #ref-27 [9]: #ref-29
Reference Key
openalex_W2050781799 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Marco Roveri, Vinicio Manzi, A. Bergamasco, Francesco M. Falcieri, Rocco Gennari, Stefano Lugli, B. Schreiber
Journal american journal of science
Year 2014
DOI
10.2475/05.2014.03
URL
https://doi.org/10.2475/05.2014.03
Keywords Keywords not found

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