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4.0 Billion Years of Earth Environmental ChangeSea LevelsSea Level is Always ChangingBoth land life and marine life is affected by these changes.Sea Level OrdersGraph on next page covers this much time on this graphSea Level OrdersLowStandHighStandLowStandHighStandOne SequenceLowStandHighStandLowStandHighStandOne SequenceDestructiveConstructiveDestructiveDestructiveConstructiveWater rapidly getting deeperDeepening slowingDepth little changingCauses of Sea Level Changes1. Tectonics – Wilson and supercontinent cyclesRodiniaRodiniariftingPangaeaPangaea rifting2. Glaciationshttp://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlPresent– 0.0http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlCauses of Sea Level Changes1. Tectonics – Wilson and supercontinent cyclesRodiniaRodiniariftingPangaeaPangaea rifting2. Glaciations3. Shifts in climate from desert to humid.A Variety of Sea Level CurvesLate Precambrian - 550http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlRodiniaMiddle Cambrian - 510http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlLate Cambrian - 500http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlEarly Ordovician - 485http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlMiddle Ordovician - 470http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlLate Ordovician - 450http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlEarly Mississippian - 345http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlLate Mississippian - 325http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlEarly Pennsylvanian – 315http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlLate Pennsylvanian – 300http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlEarly Permian - 290http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlMiddle Permian - 275http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlPangaeaEarly Triassic - 245http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlLate Triassic - 210http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlEarly Jurassic - 180http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlEarly Jurassic - 195http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlMiddle Jurassic - 170http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlLate Jurassic - 150http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlEarly Cretaceous - 115http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlLate Cretaceous - 100http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlLate Cretaceous - 85http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlCretaceous-Tertiary - 65http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlPaleocene - 60http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlMiocene - 15http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlMiocene - 8http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlPliocene - 3http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlQuarternary – 0.126http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlPresent– 0.0http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/nam.htmlHistorical Sea Level ChangesThe Mediterranean and Black Sea FloodsBosporusstraightStraights of Gibraltarhttp://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Mediterranean_SeaA satellite image taken from the side of the Strait of Gibraltar. At right, Africa; at left, EuropeNarrow, shallow sillhttp://www.american.edu/TED/ice/noah.htmBosporus StraightNarrow, shallow passage wayhttp://records.viu.ca/~earles/mediter-evapo.gifIt is now widely accepted that the evaporite (salt) deposits found under the Mediterranean resulted from the closure of the marine passages between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and the subsequent (and repeated) complete (or near-complete) desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea.But, the Mediterranean area is hot and dry, with a negative precipitation-evaporation budget, and when sea level was low between 5.96 and 5.33 million years ago the entire basin dried out.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea_deluge_theoryAt the same time the Mediterranean dried out, the Black Sea area was an isolated valley below sea level with a large freshwater lake, surrounded by early farming villageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea_deluge_theoryBosporusstraightMediterraneanArea (dry)Freshwater Lakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea_deluge_theoryBosporusstraightMediterraneanfloods across GibralterFreshwater LakeAbout 5 million years ago sea level rose enough for water to pour from the Atlantic ocean into the Mediterranean sea region, flooding it.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea_deluge_theoryBosporusstraightSea level rises to level of sillFreshwater LakeWater begins to trickle into the Black sea areaAnd then 7600 years ago with the melting of the glacial ice the Mediterranean sea level rose enough to flood the Black Sea areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea_deluge_theoryWater begins to rush through the straight in a powerful waterfall ten times larger than Niagara falls;erosion cuts a deep canyon. As Black sea area floods and turns brackishBosporusstraightThen ever more quickly water poured across the Bosporus straight eroding and cutting a deep canyon.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea_deluge_theoryThe roar of the water could be heard miles away. Lake levels rose about a foot a day, and in the gentle terrain to the north the shoreline advanced half mile a day. In less than a year the basin was filled. Then ever more quickly water poured across the Bosporus straight eroding and cutting a deep canyon.http://www.american.edu/TED/ice/noah.htmhttp://emvc.geol.ucsb.edu/Images/animation%20images/BlackSeaFlood.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea_deluge_theoryBosporusstraightValley of Black lake completely floods until it is same elevation as sea levelFinally the Valley of the Black lake area completely floods until it is the same elevation as sea level, and ships can pass through the Bosporus from the Black Sea to the Medeterranean.http://www.pbs.org/saf/1207/features/noah.htmhttp://www.pbs.org/saf/1207/features/noah.htmGreat Floods In HistoryNearly every major civilization has some story of an ancient flood. Two of the most well-known are most likely the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Genesis account. However, a number of other major civilizations have similar flood stories. http://www.american.edu/TED/ice/noah.htmGreat Floods In Historyhttp://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2004/0329gilgamesh.aspThe Gilgamesh Flood EpicIn reality, it was Utnapishtim’s flood, told in the 11th tablet. The council of the gods decided to flood the whole earth to destroy mankind. But Ea, the god who made man, warned Utnapishtim, from Shuruppak, a city on the banks of the Euphrates, and told him to build an enormous boat:‘O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubartutu:Tear down the house and build a boat!Abandon wealth and seek living beings!Spurn possessions and keep alive living beings!Make all living beings go up into the boat.The boat which you are to build,its dimensions must measure equal to each other:its length must correspond to its width.‘One (whole)


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JMU GGEOL 102 - Environmental Change Sea Level

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