Nearly 4 million years ago, the sea level was higher than 16m

The new discovery of sea level in the Upper Body can help scientists more accurately predict future climate change.

An international team of scientists have found ancient quarries inside the Artà cave , located on the Spanish island of Mallorca, showing that the sea level 3.5 to 4 million years ago was more than 16 meters high. Compared to today, UPI August 30 reported. At that time, the temperature on Earth was 2 to 3 degrees warmer.

Artà Cave has long been immersed in seawater.(Photo: UPI).

The study focused on the formation of sedimentary layers by caves. The scientists collected 70 mineral samples and carefully analyzed them in the laboratory. They used radioactive isotope uranium - lead to determine the origin and date of the samples.

The results show that the sedimentary layers have been from the Upper Tan (the second century of the Tan Can, in the Tan Sinh period) and were formed under the influence of salt water and air inside the cave. This shows that the Artà Cave, now more than 100 meters deep inland, was once inundated with sea water, explains Professor Joan J. Fornós from Illes Balears University.

"Sea level changes in Artà caves may be due to the growth and melting of the ice sheets, or caused by the island's rising and subsidence process , " said Professor Jacky Austermann from Columbia University, Another member of the team adds. Based on the melting ice models, the team said that the collapse of two large ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica was the main cause of sea level rise in recent years.

The study involved scientists from the University of New Mexico, the University of South Florida, Columbia University of the United States and Illes Balears University of Spain.