20-04-2003, 01:56 PM
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Messinian climate
(Jaak Suurpere) wrote:
[ when the Mediterranean was mostly empty ]
However, the air was humid. I have argued that if there was no
large-scale wind capable of blowing the steam away from basin bottom,
the vapour buildup would have favoured radiative heating of basin
bottom since steam is powerful greenhouse gas. Eventually, the vapour
would have caused wet convection - in other words, rainfall probably
in form of thunderstorms.
Eeek! Thunderstorms forming in a saturated 40 deg. C. airmass,
plus an /extra/ 3 km headstart before they rise up to sea-level
(then another 18 km before they finally hit the tropopause.)
So, would the Mediterranean Basin be Convective Hell on Earth,
with nonstop F5 tornadoes, basketball-sized hail, and lightning
utterly destroying any attempts at plant life and removing all
of the topsoil down to the bedrock?
(Note to self: if Mediterranean ever dries up again, do not visit)
;K
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