The Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth and one of the saltiest bodies of water, has long fascinated scientists for its massive “salt giants.” These geological wonders—vast mounds of crystallized salt—hold secrets about the planet’s past and clues to its environmental future.
A recent study published in the Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics by researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has overturned a major scientific assumption: salt formation in the Dead Sea doesn’t just happen in winter—it occurs all year long.
Salt Snow All Year
Traditionally, scientists believed that salt crystals formed mainly during the cold months when water cooled, encouraging crystallization. The new findings reveal a continuous process:
- Summer: Hot surface water evaporates, cools, sinks, and forms salt crystals at the top. These crystals fall like snow to the bottom.
- Winter: Colder temperatures maintain the process but at different rates.
The “salt snow” rate and density shift with water temperature, making the Dead Sea a dynamic, living laboratory for studying salt deposit formation.
Why the Dead Sea Is Unique
Most ancient salt giants—like those buried beneath the Mediterranean—are no longer forming, making them difficult to study. The Dead Sea remains one of the only places on Earth where the process can be observed in real time.
These salt layers can stretch for many kilometers horizontally and over a kilometer deep, showcasing the immense power of evaporation and mineral precipitation over millennia.
Climate Change and a Shrinking Sea
The Dead Sea is receding by about one meter per year, mainly due to water diversion from the Jordan River and rising evaporation rates linked to climate change.
Similar declines are being seen in other lakes and seas worldwide, making this research vital for predicting future coastal erosion and stability.
Millions of years ago, the Mediterranean nearly dried up when tectonic shifts closed the Strait of Gibraltar. Salinity skyrocketed before water returned, reshaping its ecosystem—a warning of how today’s seas might respond to environmental changes.
Global Lessons
Understanding the Dead Sea’s salt giants not only helps reconstruct Earth’s geological past but also guides strategies to protect vulnerable coastlines. As climates warm and water sources shrink, these findings are a reminder of how delicate the balance of life in aquatic systems truly is.