During the process of two major tectonic plates colliding on Earth, it is highly likely that the Mediterranean Sea could be erased from the map in the future.
The continents on Earth are in a state of continuous change, albeit very slowly. The Earth’s crust is divided into tectonic plates that move above a semi-fluid mantle, leading to the gradual reconfiguration of continents and the formation of various geological features over many eras. The current arrangement of continents, such as Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas, is only temporary. The continental configuration has changed significantly in the past and will continue to evolve in the future depending on tectonic movements, according to IFL Science.
The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot of geological activity. (Photo: World Atlas).
A significant threat to the Mediterranean Sea is the gradual collision of the African Plate (Nubian) with the Eurasian Plate. Starting around 100 million years ago, the two plates began to converge, gradually closing off the oceanic basins between them. The Alps mountain range in Europe itself is a result of this collision process.
Geological changes occur over millions of years, so the rate of movement is only a few millimeters per year. However, the Mediterranean Sea could become trapped between two tectonic plates as a new supercontinent forms. Europe will slide beneath the African Plate, and this sea will cease to exist.
This is merely a plausible prediction regarding how the Earth’s tectonic plates move. Forecasting the configuration of future supercontinents is challenging due to the complex and dynamic nature of tectonics, as well as the timescales involved. Nevertheless, historical data indicates that the Mediterranean Sea is located in an unstable position. Approximately 5.97 million years ago, an event known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis transformed the Mediterranean into a vast salt basin for half a million years.
Sea level fluctuations prevented the Atlantic Ocean from flowing into the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar, disrupting the essential water supply. The Mediterranean region is particularly susceptible to changes due to its relatively warm and dry environment, causing rapid evaporation of seawater.
