What would happen if we filled in the Mediterranean so it could be used for farmland. Would it cause an ecological problem for the world?
2006-11-29 17:10:36 · 5 answers · asked by Colin Butterworth 2 in Environment
Do you realize just how large the Mediterranean is? It takes cruise ships 3-4 days just to go from one end to the other.
Nevertheless, filling in the Mediterranean, were it possible, would create an ecological disaster for coastal territories around the world. The Mediterranean has a total surface area of about 2.5E6 square kilometers, and an average depth of 1500 meters. The volume of water in the Mediterranean is therefore about 3.75E6 cubic kilometers. This displaced water would be added to all the other oceans and seas around the world.
Excluding the Mediterranean Sea, the total water area on the surface of the Earth is about 358.6E6 square kilometers. Distributing 3.75E6 cubic kilometers of water over this area would raise the level of the oceans around the world by about 10 meters. This would most likely be unacceptable to the residents of coastal territories.
2006-11-29 19:41:02 · answer #1 · answered by Tech Dude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would have a hole the same size as the Mediterranean, presumably right next to it. And it would fill with water, and....
2006-11-29 17:17:05 · answer #2 · answered by Jim S 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Be a lot easier to just irrigate some existing land that is too dry
to raise crops...
Desalination is quickly getting easier & cheaper ...
2006-11-29 17:16:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the land would displace the water and someone somewhere will be needing a few sand bags
2006-11-29 17:36:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wouldn't it be easier to just lower the birthrate?
2006-11-29 17:19:08 · answer #5 · answered by silvercomet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋