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How did temperature and salinity differ between the upper and deep waters of the Dead Sea?
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Dead Sea
Salt deposits at the Dead Sea near Masada, Israel.
For approximately three centuries leading up to the late 1970s, the Dead Sea maintained two distinct water masses with differing physical properties.1
Temperature and Salinity Differences
- Upper Waters (Surface to ~130 feet/40 meters): This layer experienced significant temperature fluctuations, ranging from 66 to 98 °F (19 to 37 °C). Its salinity was slightly less than 300 parts per thousand, and the water was notably rich in sulfates and bicarbonates.1
- Deep Waters (Below ~330 feet/100 meters): This layer maintained a uniform temperature of approximately 72 °F (22 °C). It exhibited a higher degree of salinity, reaching about 332 parts per thousand. The deep water was saturated with sodium chloride and contained strong concentrations of magnesium, potassium, chlorine, and bromine.1
A transition zone existed between these two layers at depths of 130 to 330 feet (40 to 100 meters). Because the deep water was highly saline and dense, it remained permanently at the bottom, a state that characterizes the lake as meromictic.12