Scientists Predict 'Supercontinent' Could Eliminate Humans

Supercontinent Disaster

Several scientists have claimed that a supercontinent could become a reality for Earth in the future. A recent development has sent warning bells regarding the formation among experts, CNN reported. Scientists from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, through simulated models, have concluded that the speculated supercontinent could wipe out almost all humans and mammals in 250 million years. The findings of their research were published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Pangaea Ultima 

Earth's continents at present, are noted to be in the process of drifting, Smithsonian Magazine reported. At some point in the future, approximately in 250 million years, scientists predict that the continents will merge and form what is known as Pangaea Ultima. The supercontinent would be created somewhere around the equator, Scientific American reported. The shrinking of the Atlantic Ocean would cause a merged Afro-Eurasian continent to crash into the Americas. This process of merging would cause a lot of phenomena that would deem 92% of the Earth uninhabitable for human existence, as per researchers. "The newly-emerged supercontinent would effectively create a triple whammy comprising the continentality effect, hotter sun, and more CO2 in the atmosphere," Alexander Farnsworth, senior research associate at the University of Bristol and lead author of the paper said, CNN reported. 

The Simulation

Scientists from the University of Bristol used a supercomputer and created simulated temperature, wind, rain, and humidity trends for the supercontinent as well as used models of tectonic plate movement, ocean chemistry, and biology to calculate carbon dioxide levels, to reach their conclusions, CNN reported. Their findings indicated that the formation of Pangea Ultima would cause events like volcanic eruptions, the release of excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and more global warming. All these factors would make the majority of the area inhospitable for human survival. "Widespread temperatures of between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius (104 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit) and even greater daily extremes, compounded by high levels of humidity would ultimately seal our fate. Humans – along with many other species – would expire due to their inability to shed this heat through sweat, cooling their bodies," Farnsworth explained. 

State of Pangaea Ultima

Though the predictions made by the study are grim, many scientists refuse to believe that the supercontinent would cause the end of humanity, Smithsonian Magazine reported. "There have been extinction events in the past and will be extinction events in the future,"  Hannah Davies, a geologist at the GFZ German Research Center stated. "I think life will make it through this one. It’s just kind of a grim period." As per researchers, the coastal areas would be most suitable for human survival in the supercontinent. The interior parts would turn into deserts, where only specially adapted animals could survive, according to experts. Scientists speculate that humans in the supercontinent would no longer remain the most dominant creatures on the planet. This position would go to cold-blooded reptiles because of the environmental conditions.

Surviving the Extinction

Researchers hope that in 250 million years, humans can alter their lifestyle to adapt to the extreme conditions, Smithsonian Magazine reported. Some changes that humans could incorporate, as suggested by experts include, being active at night or living in cooler caves. The study also claims that it is essential that humans reach net-zero carbon emissions as soon as possible. Benjamin Mills, a professor of Earth system evolution at the University of Leeds claimed that if humans do not stop burning fossil fuels, carbon dioxide levels in Pangae Ultima would make human survival very difficult, CNN reported. "It is vitally important not to lose sight of our current climate crisis, which is a result of human emissions of greenhouse gases," co-author Eunice Lo, research fellow in climate change and health at the University of Bristol said.  Farnsworth further added that because of the trajectory the Earth is following, it would be beneficial if humans focus on finding other habitable places in space.