Extreme heat will wipe out all of humanity from the Earth and a new supercontinent will be born

New study shows that unprecedented heat will likely lead to the next mass extinction wiping out nearly all mammals within about 250 million years from Earth

A new study shows that unprecedented heat will likely lead to the next mass extinction (of dinosaurs), wiping out nearly all mammals within about 250 million years from Earth. The research, led by the University of Bristol, presents the first supercomputer climate models for the distant future and demonstrates how climate extremes will intensify dramatically as the world’s continents merge to form a single hot, dry, dry continent. largely uncontaminated.

Increase in temperatures

High temperatures are set to increase further as the it will become brighter, emitting more energy and warming the Earth. Tectonic processes that occur in the Earth’s crust and lead to the formation of supercontinents they would also lead to more frequent volcanic eruptions that produce huge releases of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, further warming the planet. Mammals, including humans, have historically survived due to their ability to adapt to extreme weather conditions, particularly through adaptations such as fur and hibernation in the cold, as well as short periods of hibernation in warm weather. While mammals have evolved to lower the limit of survival to cold temperatures, their tolerance to high temperatures has generally remained constant. This makes it much more difficult to overcome as prolonged exposure to excessive heat would prove unsustainable.

Human-triggered climate change

Although human-induced climate change and global warming are likely an increasing cause of heat stress and mortality in some regions, research suggests that the planet is expected to remain largely habitable until this seismic shift in land mass occurs in the future. (not immediate). But when the supercontinent forms, only 8% to 16% of the earth would be habitable for mammals.

“Pangea Ultima” on Earth

The international team of scientists applied climate models, simulating temperature, wind, rainfall and humidity trends for the next supercontinent, called Pangea Ultima, which is expected to form in the next 250 million years. To estimate the future level of CO ₂ the team used models of tectonic plate movement, ocean chemistry and biology to map CO inputs and outputs ₂. The research illustrates the importance of tectonics and continental layout when conducting research on planets beyond our solar system, called exoplanets. Even if in 250 million years the Earth will still be in the habitable zone, for mammals, the formation of a supercontinent with high levels of carbon dioxide will make most of the world uninhabitable. The findings suggest that the layout of a distant world’s landmass could be a key factor in determining how liveable it is for humans.

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