A remarkable geological feature has been discovered on the bottom of the Black Sea – a massive underwater river with waterfalls, rapids and floodplains. The river flows through the Bosporus and is fed by very salty and dense Mediterranean water. According to the professor Daniel ParsonsA former lecturer at the University of Leeds and one of the researchers behind the discovery said that if the river existed on land, it would be the sixth largest river on Earth in terms of flow (22,000 cubic meters per second). This “river in the ocean” was found to be at least 115 feet deep and is thought to be an important nutrient transport system in the deep sea. Advanced robotic mapping technology verified the characteristics of this underwater river and revealed its extensive and unique fluvial features, such as Hydro International Corporation and University of Leeds.
The nature and mechanism of hidden rivers black sea
The rivers beneath the Black Sea represent extraordinary geological phenomena and operate as “rivers of the sea”. Although ocean currents are very different from terrestrial rivers, this waterway behaves exactly like a terrestrial river. Undersea rivers have well-defined banks, floodplains, rapids, and even underwater waterfalls. this University of LeedsThe researchers found that if the submarine river were a true terrestrial river, its impressive flow of 22,000 cubic meters per second would make it the sixth-largest river in the world, behind the Amazon and the Yangtze.The river is driven by dense saltwater currents. High-density saline currents are caused by the overflow of saline and dense currents from the Mediterranean Sea through the Bosporus beneath the less dense and saline waters of the Black Sea. Instead of mixing with fresher Black Sea water, thick salt water from the Mediterranean Sea sinks to the ocean floor, forming a 115-foot (35-meter) deep and 0.6 (1-kilometer) wide strait that runs about 37 miles (60 kilometers) along the continental shelf.
Technical Highlights of the River
- Scale: 350 times that of the Thames; 10 times that of the Rhine.
- Discovery method: Dr.
Daniel Parsons ‘s research team used Autosub3, a 7-meter autonomous unmanned submarine, to map underwater features. - Nutrient highways: Scientists believe these channels act like “arteries” transporting nutrients from the deep ocean’s trophic levels/barren abyssal plains.
The findings are supported by detailed research results University of Leeds as well as many technical publications such as Hydro International.
Scientific importance and discoveries
Often referred to as the “deserts” of the ocean due to their lack of nutrients, abyssal plains have long been considered nutrient-poor areas; however, researchers suspect these underwater rivers may provide the necessary oxygen and nutrients to support the unique ecosystems that freeze at the ocean’s surface.Studying this underwater river also gives us a glimpse into Earth’s history. Researchers believe this underwater system began to form about 7,500 years ago, when the Bosporus formed and established two water layers. By exploiting current patterns and sedimentary layers, researchers can now use this information to understand the evolution of the Black Sea basin during periods of dramatic environmental changes and rising sea levels.
