Megafloods

Megafloods



Megafloods have the power to create interestingly unique features within the landscape. The unique landscape of the Scablands that varies across the land in Washington was created from the effects of a megaflood. But what would cause a megaflood?

It was determined that glaciers leftover from the Ice Age may have traveled down from the Canadian region and created massive dams by being jammed in between two mountains. Over time these dams would be weathered and pressure would begin to build up. Supercooled water can cause the glacier to break apart and give way to the built up pressure. Glaciers have cracks within the ice. As water moves through the glacier cracks friction is cause against the ice from moving through tiny spaces and be sucked through causing the ice to heat up and even larger cracks to form. The ice begins to breakdown and the glacial dam gives way. All the built up water behind the glacial dam travels at fast speeds over long distances. These large or megafloods would travel out to the Pacific ocean very quickly thus creating the landscap of the Scablands in just a day, even a matter of hours.