According to the scientists of Israel, the existence of Dead Sea is under threat as the human activity around it can cause it to dry up completely. More than 100,000 years ago the Dead Sea almost dried up and recovered, but this time the present drops in its level is causing more worry as stated by researchers from Hebrew and Tel Aviv universities.
It was revealed by a drilling project that there has been a rise and fall of hundreds of feet in the level of water in the last 200,000 years during periods of little rainfall and extreme dryness respectively. About 120,000 years ago, during last interglacial period the sea almost dried entirely. According to Zvi ben Avraham of TAU’s Minerva Dead Sea Research Center, although the historical record shows that drying climate driven periods were followed by recovery, but still there is a reason to worry regarding the current state of the Dead Sea as the current drop in the levels of sea’s water is due to human activity.
Presently, the water level of Dead Sea lies 1,400 feet below sea level and is decreasing rapidly. The thing that we are witnessing in the Middle East is something that imitates a harsh dry period, but is not forced by the climate, in fact is a man made event caused due to increasing water amounts taken from the rivers for irrigation before they reach the Dead Sea. The refilling of the sea is being prevented by the waters of river Jordan.
Via: UPI
