Dead Sea mystery: Strange ‘salt snow’ could explain hidden structures below

In one of the most unusual natural discoveries of recent years, scientists have observed what they call “salt snow” falling beneath the surface of the Dead Sea. Unlike normal snowfall, this strange process happens underwater as halite crystals form and descend like snowflakes. Researchers believe this rare phenomenon may help explain how massive underground salt structures such as chimneys, domes, and kilometer-thick deposits are created. Triggered by climate change, evaporation, and water diversion, the “salt snow” not only reshapes the Dead Sea but also offers clues to Earth’s geological past.

What is ‘salt snow’ of Dead Sea

Salt snow refers to the precipitation of halite crystals within the Dead Sea. Normally, salt crystallization is seen in shallow or cold water layers, but here it occurs year-round, even during summer. The process begins when surface water becomes warmer and saltier due to evaporation. This dense water cools and sinks, while colder, less salty water from below rises. The mixing of these layers triggers crystal formation in mid-water zones, creating the illusion of snow falling underwater.

How the Dead Sea became a natural laboratory

The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth’s surface and one of the saltiest water bodies in the world, making it uniquely suited for such phenomena. Historically, its water remained layered and stable. But since the 1980s, reduced inflow from the Jordan River and intensified evaporation have disrupted this balance. As a result, annual mixing of water layers now fuels continuous salt crystallization. Unlike other seas such as the Red Sea or the Mediterranean, where similar processes ended millions of years ago, the Dead Sea remains active, offering a living glimpse into Earth’s geological history.

Salt giants beneath the surface

These falling crystals accumulate over time, forming vast salt structures beneath the seabed. Known as salt giants, chimneys, and domes, they can reach more than a kilometer in thickness and extend over vast distances. Such formations are crucial for geologists because they mirror conditions during the Messinian Salinity Crisis over 5 million years ago, when the Mediterranean dried up and massive salt deposits were left behind. The Dead Sea now serves as a smaller-scale model of that ancient process.

Climate change and its role

The salt snow is not just a scientific curiosity, it reflects wider environmental shifts. Climate change, combined with human-driven freshwater diversion, has caused the Dead Sea’s water level to drop by about one meter per year. This accelerates salinity increases and alters stratification, intensifying salt precipitation. The unusual “snowfall” thus acts as a visible marker of climate stress on fragile ecosystems, highlighting how human activities and warming temperatures reshape natural processes.

Why it matters globally

Understanding the Dead Sea’s salt snow provides more than local insights. These formations record climate fluctuations and hydrological imbalances, offering a geological archive of environmental change. On a broader scale, studying this phenomenon could shed light on how coastal systems respond to rising salinity and climate change worldwide. It also informs research into erosion, resource extraction, and the stability of other saltwater basins. Go to Source