Is there a way to stop the water from draining out of the Mediterranean Sea? The serene waters of the Mediterranean Sea were not always serene. A layer of salt up to two miles thick lies deep underneath the basin. This thick salt deposit is a reminder that the ancient Mediterranean Sea vanished millions of years ago. Some geologists believe that the entire sea evaporated for a time.
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For comparison, the research submersible Alvin is able to resist up to 6 kilometres of depth with its 75mm thick, 2 metre diameter, titanium pressure sphere. There’s probably a significant safety margin on that, but if we take it as a standard, then we can expect that a 150mm (6″) thick titanium sphere of the same dimensions would resist the pressure at 11 km depth. Therefore, [edit: given that metals tend to have similar tensile and compressive strengths] one could reasonably expect the sphere to contain the same pressure. Or one could use the same thickness of titanium as Alvin and reduce the diameter by half to provide the same structural strength.
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A beautiful map of the Atlantic Ocean floor published in 1968 based on a large amount of deep-ocean soundings compiled by Bruce Heezen and Marie Tharp, painted by Heinrich Berann for National Geographic Magazine. That segmented central structure is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Entirely submerged by the ocean, it is like a "wound" in what can be considered the skin of our planet: the crust. Here the crust opens and a "cut" is formed from which molten magmas flow from the mantle to form new oceanic crust of basaltic composition. This ridge, together with other mid-ocean ridges, are formed where two plates move apart. Mid-ocean ridges are not always below sea level: the highest peaks can emerge forming volcanic islands like Iceland.
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