Supercontinent Pangea Ultima, which is predicted to form 250 million years from now, will result in extreme temperatures that will make it uninhabitable for mammals, according to a recent study published in Nature Geoscience. The study, conducted by an international team of researchers led by the University of Bristol, utilized supercomputer climate models to examine the potential climate changes caused by the formation of Pangea Ultima. The research sheds light on how Earth’s climate could evolve naturally in the distant future.
The study highlights two main factors that will contribute to the drastic increase in temperatures on Earth. Firstly, the merging of all continents into one supercontinent will result in increased volcanism and the release of carbon dioxide, which naturally warms the planet. However, excessive volcanism will lead to a surplus of carbon dioxide, causing significant temperature rises. Secondly, as the sun ages, it will give off more energy and heat. These combined factors create a hostile environment with temperatures reaching 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, rendering it inhospitable for mammals, including humans.
Dr. Alexander Farnsworth, senior research associate at the University of Bristol and lead author of the study, explains that the continentality effect, coupled with a hotter sun and higher CO2 levels, will make the new supercontinent inhabitable for most mammalian species. The extreme temperatures, along with high humidity, would make it impossible for mammals to regulate their body temperature through sweating, leading to their demise.
To conduct the study, the researchers used computer climate models to simulate the environmental conditions of Pangea Ultima, including factors such as humidity, rain, wind, and temperature. They also factored in starting and ending CO2 levels based on biology, ocean chemistry, and tectonic processes. The findings reveal that only a small percentage of Pangea Ultima’s land mass, between 8% to 16%, will remain habitable for mammals. While human-induced climate change is expected to increase Earth’s temperature, the planet will likely remain habitable until the formation of Pangea Ultima.
The study highlights the limitations of mammalian ability to adapt to extreme temperatures. While mammals, including humans, have evolved to withstand cold temperatures, they lack the ability to survive in increasingly hotter conditions. Dr. Farnsworth emphasizes that the future outlook appears bleak, with carbon dioxide levels potentially doubling and temperatures ranging from 40°C to 70°C. The research also raises questions about the habitability of other planets within the “habitable zone” of their respective solar systems, depending on the distribution of continents.
Pangea Ultima will not be the first supercontinent to exist on Earth. Scientists hypothesize that there have been 10 supercontinents throughout Earth’s history, with Pangea being the most well-known. The formation of supercontinents is a result of plate tectonics, a process in which the Earth’s surface is divided into plates that collide and subduct beneath each other over millions of years.
The study provides valuable insights into potential future climate changes caused by natural processes. Understanding these changes can help scientists anticipate and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The research also serves as a reminder of the Earth’s dynamic nature and the need to protect its delicate ecosystems.