A new study suggests that extreme temperatures could lead to a mass extinction for the first time since the extinction of the dinosaurs, ultimately leading to the end of the reign of humans and mammals on Earth. Dr D., a senior research fellow at the University of Bristol. Alexander Farnsworth led research that paints a bleak picture of our planet’s distant future.
Pangea Ultima is a future supercontinent
Scientists believe that Earth’s continents will gradually drift and eventually merge to form a massive landmass called Pangea Ultima. This supercontinent will radically change the planet’s climate. A published study Natural Geologyuses supercomputer climate models to show how this new configuration could create an environment too hot and dry for most life forms.
Triple threat to life on Earth
So what causes these extreme temperatures that drive humans to extinction?
“A newly formed supercontinent would create a triple whammy of a continentality effect, a hotter sun and more CO₂ in the atmosphere, leading to increased temperatures across much of the planet,” Dr Farnsworth said. he explained.
firstThe formation of a supercontinent would mean increasing land area away from the cooling effects of the ocean; This is a phenomenon known as the continentality effect.
Second, Over millions of years, the sun will become brighter, radiating more energy and warming the earth.
ThirdIncreased volcanic activity due to tectonic movements will release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and trap more heat.
Dr. “Widespread temperatures of 40 to 50° Celsius (104 to 122° Fahrenheit) and larger daily temperature variations combined with high humidity levels will ultimately determine our fate,” Farnsworth added. “Humans, along with many other species, will go extinct because they cannot release this heat through sweat to cool their bodies.”
Thermal limitation of mammals
Mammals have always had the ability to adapt, surviving in various extreme climatic conditions throughout history. We have evolved traits such as fur that provides warmth and the ability to hibernate in cold weather. However, our resistance to upper temperature has not changed much. It is much more difficult for mammals to tolerate prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures.
The study suggests that only 8-16% of the land in the new supercontinent will be suitable for mammals. Finding food and water will become nearly impossible as large parts of the planet face extreme heat and drought.
Modern climate action and human extinction
Although this scenario is still millions of years away, researchers emphasize that we should not overlook the current climate crisis. Co-author Dr. D., a research fellow in climate change and health at the University of Bristol. “It is vital that we do not lose sight of our current climate crisis, which is a result of human greenhouse gas emissions,” said Eunice Lo.
“Although we predict that the planet will become uninhabitable in 250 million years, today we are already experiencing intense temperatures that harm human health. Therefore, it is extremely important to reach zero emissions as soon as possible.”
CO₂ level and tectonic shifts
The team used models of tectonic plate movement and ocean chemistry to predict future carbon dioxide levels. They predict that CO₂ levels could rise from around 400 parts per million today to over 600 parts per million in the future.
“We think CO₂ could rise from 400 parts per million (ppm) today to over 600 parts per million in millions of years,” said Professor Benjamin Mills from the University of Leeds.
“That’s assuming, of course, that people stop burning fossil fuels, otherwise we’ll see these numbers much, much sooner.”
“Prospects for the distant future look very bleak. Carbon dioxide levels could be double current levels,” added Dr. Farnsworth. “The sun is expected to emit around 2.5% more radiation, and since the supercontinent is mostly located in the hot and humid tropics, most of the planet is within 40°C.” Temperatures ranging from 104 to 158°F (104 to 158°F) may be experienced.”
Results beyond Earth
This research doesn’t just tell us about the future of the Earth; It also has implications for the search for life on other planets.
“This study also highlights that a world in the Solar System’s so-called ‘habitable zone’ may not be the most hospitable region for humans, depending on whether the continents are distributed as they are today or connected to a large supercontinent.” he said. Dr. – concluded Farnsworth.
Understanding how the position of continents affects climate can help scientists assess the habitability of exoplanets (planets outside our solar system). Could other worlds face similar challenges?
Past mass extinctions
The geological and climatic history of the Earth is punctuated by various mass extinction events at moments when the planet underwent dramatic changes that resulted in a significant loss of biodiversity.
Ordovician-Silurian extinction (about 443 million years ago)
This first significant mass extinction was led by ice ages that caused a massive loss of marine life, killing almost 85% of marine life. Changing sea levels and temperatures have reduced habitats and caused ecological stress, which directly affects marine biodiversity. Since life on land was scarce during this period, this extinction wiped out mostly marine species.
Late Devonian Extinction (about 360 million years ago)
The Late Devonian extinction had a significant impact, reducing species numbers by 75%. This extinction greatly affected marine life, especially reef-building organisms and fish. Volcanic activity and asteroid impacts are thought to be the main culprits disrupting ecosystems and altering atmospheric conditions, leading to widespread marine hypoxia.
Permian-Triassic extinction (about 252 million years ago)
This catastrophe, often referred to as the “great extinction,” wiped out approximately 96% of marine species and 70% of land species. Large-scale volcanic eruptions in the territory of modern Siberia led to the release of huge amounts of lava, which caused drastic climate changes, acid rain and ocean acidification. These environmental changes have devastated global ecosystems and altered life on Earth.
Triassic-Jurassic extinction (about 200 million years ago)
This event marked the end of the Triassic period and the beginning of the Jurassic period, when approximately 50% of species died out. Large-scale volcanic activity and resulting climate changes are thought to be the driving force behind dinosaur dominance, clearing ecological niches and facilitating adaptive radiation of various species.
Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event (about 66 million years ago)
This well-known mass extinction event was caused by a massive asteroid impact that formed the Chicxulub Crater in present-day Mexico and wiped out approximately 75% of all species, including non-avian dinosaurs. The impact caused wildfires, tsunamis, and the release of large amounts of sulfur, leading to a “nuclear winter” effect, resulting in extreme and sudden climate changes.
People, climate, supercontinents and extinction
To summarize, this research from the University of Bristol suggests that Earth’s future could be so hot that it cannot prevent the extinction of most mammals, including humans.
The formation of a new supercontinent called Pangea Ultima, a brighter sun and higher CO₂ levels could raise temperatures to unbearable levels. It’s a crazy thought, but it reminds us that our planet is constantly changing and not always in our favor.
When we look back at mass extinction events throughout Earth history, we see the same story emerge over and over again.
- Something big happens, like a massive volcanic eruption or an asteroid hitting the Earth, and suddenly everything changes and large numbers of species become extinct.
- The environment is changing so dramatically and rapidly that most life cannot keep up.
- These ancient mass extinctions teach us a very sobering lesson about life on Earth: It’s much more fragile than we thought.
As we face our own environmental crisis today, these past events remind us that we need to take better care of our environment and the planet’s biodiversity.
Mother Earth has a wild and predictable history of shaking, and we humans – like all living things before us – are essentially only temporary inhabitants of this ever-changing planet. The full text of the research was published in the journal Natural Geology.
Source: Port Altele
