Catastrophic Flood Dynamic Database

Introduction

Reports of catastrophic floods, and of the various kinds of evidence by which they are recognized, are listed in this database. Flood events in ancient times are indicated by geologic evidence, traditions, extinctions, survival of isolated species with a former extensive habitat, and by the Bible. The reports of evidence for floods of catastrophic proportions by various workers have sometimes provoked controversy and encountered resistance from other scientists.

Evidence for various flood events may possibly be related to a single, more extensive event. Does some of the evidence listed below point to contemporaneous events? A great flood, such as the one mentioned in the Bible, would leave its marks in different parts of the world. If there was crustal upheaval in one part of the world, surely it would be accompanied by crustal movements elsewhere. A widespread catastrophic event would help to explain various extinctions of large animals, that otherwise seem enigmatic.

The evidence for catastrophic floods includes oversized valleys, canyons, remnant mesas and bluffs that show the erosive work of great volumes of water in the past, streamlined landforms, giant current ripples and bars, lag deposits, raised, non-horizontal ancient shorelines, lake basins, and similar features. The title of this page refers to a 'dynamic' database because contributions submitted by others are welcome; the resource is expected to expand over time.

Objectives:

establish the nature and extent of the evidence for catastrophic flooding;
identify promising areas for further study;
review the history of previous catastrophic flood interpretations;
bring together related ideas and discussions;
identify evidence that relates the floods in different areas;
encourage a simplified, accurate understanding of the data;
list Web links, references, and information on related resources.

On Flood Mechanisms

When evidence for catastrophic flooding is recognized by geologists, they often invoke the conditions of a hypothetical Ice Age. Some of the most impressive flood evidence is attributed to failure of former hypothetical ice dams, as in the Lake Missoula floods. Another mechanism which has been invoked is the sudden release of meltwater that accumulated beneath the ice sheets. But the more often these mechanisms are invoked, the more they seem far-fetched, and unconvincing; the "ice dam" failure theory seems especially to be overworked.

Vertical crustal movements seem to be one of the most obvious ways in which floods having geologic significance can be caused. But uplift or subsidence over wide areas implies crustal instability elsewhere. If land rose up in one place, it must have subsided somewhere else, or else we would end up with a hole inside the earth. So, much of the flood evidence points to a more general and extensive flood.

Extinctions also point to a widespread flood; there is no way glaciers or ice sheets could accomplish it, and local floods would not cause extinctions, however violent they are supposed to have been.

It is a curious fact, although the great flood is a feature of many traditions, none make mention of any ice age.

The Nature of the Flood - lists some of the flood models that have been proposed.

Legends of the Deluge