Scientists put a deadlock gigantic leaps of ancient oceans

Image fom: uwec.edu

The researchers found that in the past, sea level fluctuated rapidly. Researchers have shown that about 80 thousand years ago the water level suddenly rose to 16 meters, and then sharply dropped to their previous values. Work published in the journal Science. Her summary of the results in portal ScienceNOW.
Lifting the level of the oceans is the result of melting ice, and its reduction occurs at the turn of the glacial period. It is believed that periods of warming and cooling on Earth are related to periodic fluctuations in the Earth's axis. Duration of one such period is about 100 thousand years (although there are shorter cycles).

The authors of the new study worked in the caves on the island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea. From the ceiling of the cave stalactites hanging down, covered with deposits of calcite - a mineral, which remained on the rocks after they turned out to be flooded. Calcite was postponed at the stalactites, like the annual rings, and these rings indicate the maximum and minimum level of the ocean. With the help of radioactive dating, scientists determined the age of the sediments.

The collected data allowed the researchers to determine that about 80 thousand years ago the ocean level was one meter higher than at present. Moreover, an unexpected increase in the level of 16 meters occurred rapidly - The water is rising at a rate of about two meters per century. The reverse process also occurs very quickly and took about two thousand years.

Such behavior of the oceans is not consistent with existing theories. Such a high rate of change of water level means that its huge mass is converted into ice and melted in a very short time. While experts can not explain what could cause such processes.