Kathmandu, September 8
Videos that have gone viral on TikTok, YouTube and Facebook have sparked concern around the world by claiming that the Atlantic Ocean in Argentina suddenly dried up overnight or dramatically receded. The dramatic footage shows a vast stretch of the seabed exposed, boats left stranded and what appears to be a mysterious “new island” emerging from the water. Some posts have even described the phenomenon as a “global catastrophe” or a sign of the apocalypse.
If you are wondering whether reports that the sea disappeared in Argentina are real or simply misleading claims, here are the facts.
The videos showing the sea receding are genuine. However, claims that the sea permanently “dried up” or disappeared into the Earth are false. Rather than being a global catastrophe, the phenomenon was a temporary natural event caused by weather-related forces.
What actually happened in Argentina?
The viral videos were filmed along the coast of Mar del Plata, a major seaside tourist city in Argentina’s Buenos Aires Province.
Over a period of several hours, the sea level receded significantly from the shoreline. According to Argentina’s leading daily newspaper La Nación, the receding water exposed a large, permanent rocky formation known as Restinga del Faro, which normally remains submerged beneath the sea.
Because the rock formation is usually underwater, its sudden appearance made it look to tourists as though a new island had emerged. However, after the normal tidal cycle was completed, the seawater returned to its usual level within the same day.
Why did the sea recede?
Several temporary natural forces combined to cause the unusual retreat of the seawater.
Strong offshore winds (wind setdown): According to local marine media outlet Pescare, prolonged strong winds blowing from the shore towards the open sea can push surface water away from coastal areas. This can cause the sea level along the coast to appear significantly lower.
Changes in atmospheric pressure: Significant changes in atmospheric pressure can cause temporary fluctuations in regional sea levels and push coastal water offshore.
Extremely low tide: The weather-related effects coincided with a naturally occurring period of low tide, making the retreat of the water appear even more dramatic.
When weather-related forces push seawater away from the coast in this manner, the phenomenon is scientifically known as wind setdown or a meteorological low tide. It is essentially the opposite of a storm surge, in which strong winds push seawater towards the land.
Is it a sign of a tsunami?
When seawater suddenly recedes, many people assume it is a warning sign of an approaching tsunami. Tsunamis, however, are generally triggered by events such as undersea earthquakes or landslides. In such cases, seawater can rapidly recede within minutes before a potentially devastating wave arrives.
The phenomenon observed in Mar del Plata, however, was caused by winds and weather conditions that persisted for several hours. It was not considered a sign of tsunami risk.
Similar weather-related phenomena have been observed in other parts of the world. For example, powerful storms can temporarily push water far back from some shallow bays and coastal areas.
Conclusion
The unusual retreat of the sea exposed stretches of sand and rocky formations that normally remain submerged. The weather-related phenomenon was temporary, ended within a short period, and the sea returned to its normal level the same day.
The sea in Argentina did not permanently dry up or disappear. The Earth did not crack open and swallow the ocean, nor was the event a sign of a global catastrophe.
