How were ecosystems formed: global hydrodynamic and lithodynamic processes in the Caspian-Mediterranean region in the Miocene-Pleistocene

Abstract

In the article the ancient geological processes of transporting a huge volume of water (up to 2500 km3/year), whereby the Paratethys Sea and the Manych, Bosporus and Dardanelles straits was formed, are regarded as deterministic physical processes. In our opinion, these processes can be studied by mathematical modeling. 5 million years ago, similar events happened in the Mediterranean Sea. At the beginning of the Messinian Salt Crisis, as a result of uncompensated evaporation, the sea dried up to depth of approximately 1700 m, and then, after the formation of the Gibraltar Strait and the breakthrough of the ocean waters, the sea again was filled by the ocean water. It is shown that about 100 km3/year of water during the glacial period, 200 km3/year during the climatic optimum, and up to 2200 km3 year during the glacial melt period came from the Paratethys Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. During the Messinian crisis, the freshening of the water of the Eastern Basin was observed and favorable conditions for freshwater faunawere created.