Sea level at full speed

2010/02/16 Kortabitarte Egiguren, Irati - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Biologia

The ice on planet Earth can form and melt faster than expected, which can lead to significant changes in sea level in the short term, according to an article published in the journal Science.

To reach this conclusion, researchers from Iowa University have analyzed the stalactites of several Mallorcan cubatas and have made measurements of the mineral calcite included in them. The geological structures of these caves are suitable for this type of measurement. In fact, for many years the cave was immersed in the Mediterranean Sea and sea level fluctuations can be measured. Based on this data, researchers have found that sea level stood one meter above the current level 81,000 years ago. In addition, they have discovered that sea level grew around 2 meters in a century. Glaciers melted at full speed.

Image courtesy of: Bogdan P. Onac