The Mediterranean Sea could disappear

The continents on Earth are in a constant state of change, albeit very slowly. The Earth’s crust is divided into tectonic plates that move above the semi-fluid upper mantle, leading to the gradual rearrangement of the continents and the formation of diverse geological features over eons. The current continental layout such as Africa, Eurasia, America… is only temporary. Continental configurations have changed significantly in the past and will continue to evolve in the future depending on the movements of tectonic plates, according to IFL Science.

The major threat to the Mediterranean Sea is the gradual collision of the African (Nubian) plate into the Eurasian plate. Beginning about 100 million years ago, the two plates began to converge, gradually closing off the ocean basins between them. The European Alps themselves are the result of that collision process.

Geological changes occur on timescales of millions of years, so the rate of movement is only a few millimeters a year. However, the Mediterranean Sea could be sandwiched between two tectonic plates while the new supercontinent forms. Europe will slide under the African plate and this sea will cease to exist.

This is just one possible prediction of how Earth’s tectonic plates move. Predicting the configuration of future supercontinents is difficult due to the complex and dynamic nature of plate tectonics, as well as the time frames involved. However, historical data shows that the Mediterranean Sea is in an unstable position. About 5.97 million years ago, an event called the Messinian salt crisis occurred that turned the Mediterranean into a vast salt basin for half a million years.

Fluctuations in sea levels prevent the Atlantic Ocean from flowing into the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar, disrupting essential water supplies. The Mediterranean region is particularly vulnerable to change because it is a relatively warm and dry region, so sea water evaporates very quickly.