Limited Mediterranean sea-level drop during the Messinian salinity crisis inferred from the buried Nile canyon

Abstract The extreme Mediterranean sea-level drop during the Messinian salinity crisis has been known for >50 years, but its amplitude and duration remain a challenge. Here we estimate by restoring topography of Nile canyon vertical position coastline unloading post-Messinian sediment accounting flexural isostasy compaction. We original depth geomorphological base level River at ~600 m below present sea level, implying drawdown 2–4 times smaller than previously estimated from suggesting that salt precipitated under 1–3 km deep waters. This conclusion is odds with nearly-desiccated basin model (>2 drawdown) dominating scientific literature 50 years. Yet, 600 ca. five larger eustatic fluctuations impact on continental margins incomparable to any glacial fall.