Imprints of the Messinian Salinity Crisis on the geomorphology of the Malta Escarpment (Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

During the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC), between 5.97 and 5.33 Ma, the Mediterranean Sea became disconnected from the world's oceans and a fast and continuous evaporation generated its partial desiccation, resulting in the deposition of more than one million cubic kilometres of salt. The extent of the evaporative drawdown phases associated to the MSC remain poorly constrained, particularly in the central Mediterranean. In this study we investigate the geomorphology of the Malta Escarpment to provide answers to these questions. We use multibeam echosounder, seismic reflection data, and gravity cores to identify more than two hundred linear to arcuate scars and more than two hundred canyons.