A supercontinent will emerge in 250 million years, according to research
A study carried out by scientists at the University of Bristol raises a warning: the advance of global warming may be decreeing the date for the end of times on Earth.
Published in the journal Nature Geoscience, the research indicates that mammals may have just over 250 million years left on the planet due to a set of extreme climate factors that will be drastically intensified.
According to the study, climate extremes will be worsened when the world’s continents merge, forming a dry, hot and largely uninhabitable supercontinent.
This hypothetical scenario would result in an increase in global temperature, as tectonic processes in the Earth’s crust during the formation of the supercontinent would lead to more frequent volcanic eruptions, emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and contributing to the greenhouse effect.
Mammals, despite their ability to adapt to climate extremes through characteristics such as fur and hibernation abilities, would face insurmountable challenges in this hostile environment.
Alexander Farnsworth, one of the scientists involved in the research, highlighted that the newly formed supercontinent would represent a “triple blow” to life on Earth, combining the effect of continentality, a hotter sun and a significant increase in CO2 in the atmosphere.
Scientists used climate models and simulations to predict trends in temperature, rainfall, wind and humidity for the supercontinent, predicted to form 250 million years from now.
The scenario described in the study paints a dark future for Earth, where the availability of water and food sources would be severely compromised, making the planet practically unviable for life as we know it.
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