According to a new study, about 250 million years of abnormal global warming Mammals animals will end
The study, published Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience, predicts that the world’s continents will once again merge to form a very hot, dry and largely uninhabitable supercontinent, known as ‘ It is called ‘Panjia Ultima’.
Environmental change What is seen in the millennium is different from the human-caused environmental crisis caused by the burning of biofuels.
The scientists, including scientists from the University of Bristol, used supercomputer simulations of the far future to predict how the sun’s brightness and energy output would further increase global temperatures. .
The movement of Earth’s tectonic plates is also likely to result in the formation of a supercontinent, where volcanic eruptions could release huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, warming the planet even more, the researchers say. .
Until now, mammals – including humans – have been able to survive on land because of their water-borne ability to adapt to harsh climates, such as by shedding fur and hibernating in the cold. with short spells of hibernation.
Although mammals have adapted to survive in cold temperatures, their tolerance to warm temperatures has not changed over millions of years of evolution.
Therefore, it is very difficult to survive the long-term extremes of warming predicted by the simulations, making Earth eventually uninhabitable for mammals.
According to Alexander Farnsworth, the head of the study from the University of Bristol, ‘a new emerging supercontinent will create a triple dilemma. Including continental drift, hot sun and excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which will increase the temperature of most of the planet.
This image shows the average temperature (degrees Celsius) of the hottest month for Earth and the projected continent (Pangia Ultima) in 250 million years, which would have made it difficult for almost any mammal to survive (University of Bristol).
The result, the researchers say, is a ‘generally inhospitable’ planet that lacks food and water resources for mammals.
Temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius over most of the country and daily highs even higher, combined with high levels of humidity (in the air), will eventually kill us,” Dr Farnsworth said.
He said, ‘Many other species, including humans, will also become extinct because they will not be able to release this heat through sweat and cool their bodies.’
2/n We show that the assembly of Pangea Ultima in 250 million years will likely lead to extreme heat that could lead to the mass extinction of mammals and other life. Below is a monthly animation of surface temperatures (°C) through an average month of the year. pic.twitter.com/hRBuaBeag8
— Alex Farnsworth (@Climate_AlexF) September 25, 2023
Supercomputer simulations show that the planet could remain largely habitable as long as the Earth’s depth is not altered by earthquakes.
But when the supercontinent forms, research suggests that only eight to 16 percent of Earth will be habitable for mammals.
In the study, scientists used climate models to simulate trends in temperature, wind, precipitation and humidity that would occur in Pangea Ultima, which is expected to form over the next 250 million years.
They used tectonic plate movements as well as models of ocean chemistry and biology to predict future carbon dioxide levels.
However, the researchers explained that it is also important not to ignore the ongoing global climate crisis as a result of human emissions of greenhouse gases.
“Even though we are predicting an uninhabitable planet in 250 million years, we are already experiencing extreme warming today that is harmful to human health,” said Eunice Lowe, co-author of the study. That is why it is very important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero as soon as possible.
Another study author, Benjamin Mills, from the University of Leeds, said: ‘We think carbon dioxide could rise from about 400 parts per million (ppm) today to more than 600 ppm in the future. Of course, this assumes that humans will stop burning fossil fuels, otherwise these statistics will be upon us sooner rather than later.’
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The findings apply to the search for other habitable planets, indicating that the terrain of a distant world may be an important factor in determining how habitable it is for humans. can
Dr Farnsworth said, ‘The outlook for the distant future looks very bleak. Carbon dioxide levels could double from current levels.
‘The Sun is expected to emit 2.5% more radiation and the supercontinent is mainly in the warm and humid polar regions, with temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees Celsius over most of the planet.’
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