In 2016, researchers proposed that salt fingers could send crystals to the Dead Sea floor. 3 years later, a 2019 study backed the theory, showing why the lakebed gains about 10 centimeters of salt yearly

Recent scientific research reveals the intriguing mechanism behind the formation of salt crystals in the Dead Sea. As warmer, salt-laden surface water mingles with cooler depths, it triggers the crystallization process, leading to a gradual sinking of salt particles towards the lakebed. The growing salinity levels in the Dead Sea result from freshwater diversions, shedding light on both contemporary and ancient geological salt deposits.