Late Quaternary Sea-level and Environmental Changes in the Black Sea A Short Review of Published Data

Nicolae Panin and Claudia Strechie (Romania)

Abstract

This paper presents a review of main research carried out within the Black Sea. It summarizes the environmental changes, including water-level fluctuations in the Black Sea during the Upper Quaternary based upon data drawn from scientific literature as well as the authors’ preliminary research results in the western Black Sea and Danube Delta. Arguments for and against the catastrophic flood hypothesis are discussed. The opinion is expressed that the controversy about the Black Sea development during the Holocene cannot be solved without more extensive study of the problem.