Pangea Ultima

Millions of years ago, there were supercontinents on the planet such as Godwana, Laurasia, Panea, Ur, Vaalbara (hypothetically) and others. Due to constant motion, it is predicted that in about 250 million years, the continents existing today will collide with each other again, forming a supercontinent called Pangea Ultima or Amazia. But its emergence will likely lead to significant global changes that will make the planet uninhabitable for mammals and trigger another mass extinction.

Geological evidence shows that There have been significant fluctuations in pCO over the last 3.5 billion years, since the breakup of the first supercontinent Vaalbara.₂ (partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere) at different stages of the formation, existence and disintegration of continents.

The formation and breakup of supercontinents has always led to natural warming and cooling cycles that change pCO.₂ However, the formation of Pangea Ultima will likely coincide with the increased activity of the aging Sun. The star will emit approximately 2.5% more energy than today, which will lead to an increase in pCO, especially when combined with the tectonic activity of the continent due to volcanic emissions of greenhouse gases.₂ in the atmosphere

Scientists believe that the formation and breakup of the supercontinent will cause life for land mammals to end billions of years earlier than previous theories predicted. Changes in plate tectonics and increased solar energy will inevitably cause the global mean annual temperature to increase. The consequences of such a combination are likely to lead to large-scale hyperthermic events similar to the Permian-Triassic event, the largest known extinction event on Earth approximately 250 million years ago.

Some mammals that migrated to the northernmost and southernmost parts of the continent may still survive in certain parts of the planet. But even for them, life won’t be pleasant. Additionally, continental conditions such as large deserts can render migration strategies ineffective. Even species that can burrow into the soil and avoid surface heat do not demonstrate sufficient ability to survive global warming today.

What other threats are there to earthly life?

The movement of continents is not the only danger that awaits the creatures lucky enough to survive for this long. One day the Earth will inevitably leave the so-called habitable zone of the Sun. This is a certain area of ​​space around our star where planets receive enough light so that they do not burn from heat and freeze from lack of heat. Therefore, there can be no doubt that life is truly doomed to extinction if it cannot move beyond the planet. However, this will not be as rapid as the formation of a new supercontinent.

Also don’t forget this greenhouse gas emissions from human activitiesIt is taking our climate to extremes not observed for millions of years. What happened is already having a devastating impact on ecosystems around the world and has set in motion the sixth mass extinction of species. Today’s warming trends will eventually lead to such an increase in global temperatures that parts of the world, such as Africa, Australia, Europe, and South Asia, will become unsuitable for mammals. However, even if all available fossil fuels were burned in the distant future, much of the Earth’s surface would still be suitable for the survival of some animals.