megafloods
Massive ancient deluges
Megafloods are catastrophic flood events of enormous scale, typically releasing volumes of water far exceeding any recorded in human history.
The term usually refers to prehistoric floods caused by collapsing ice dams, glacial lake outbursts, or rapid ice sheet melting: Megafloods carved the channeled scablands of eastern Washington.
Scientists study megaflood evidence to understand both ancient geology and potential future climate scenarios.
Western Montana university town
- PleistoceneAncient glacial geological period
- glaciationIce sheet spreading process
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- quaternaryFourth-order or four-bonded
paleoclimate · outburst · Bonneville · Altai · jökulhlaup · cataract · spillway · catastrophism
Release of substance outward
- torrentViolent rushing flow
- outburstSudden emotional release
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- streamflowRiver water's measured movement
watershed · channel · current · velocity · turbulence · hydraulic · deluge · inundation
Flood-eroded basalt terrain
- couleesSteep-walled dry valleys
- erosionGradual wearing away
- terracesRaised flat outdoor areas
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
stratigraphy · deposition · landform · moraine · drumlin · esker · braided · alluvium
Violent, large-scale disaster
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- apocalypticPertaining to ultimate devastation
scouring · obliteration · upheaval · annihilation · reshaping · violent · sudden · extreme
Missoula
Western Montana university town
- PleistoceneAncient glacial geological period
- glaciationIce sheet spreading process
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
quaternary · paleoclimate · outburst · Bonneville · Altai · jökulhlaup · cataract · spillway · catastrophism
discharge
Release of substance outward
streamflow · watershed · channel · current · velocity · turbulence · hydraulic · deluge · inundation · overflow
scablands
Flood-eroded basalt terrain
sediment · stratigraphy · deposition · landform · moraine · drumlin · esker · braided · alluvium · pothole
cataclysm
Violent, large-scale disaster
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
apocalyptic · scouring · obliteration · upheaval · annihilation · reshaping · violent · sudden · extreme · unprecedented
megafloodsmegadroughts
Prolonged severe water scarcity
desertification · desiccation · drought · water scarcity · aridity