New Supercontinent Would Wipe Out Humans And All Mammals: Study

According to a study conducted by the University of Bristol, a new supercontinent called Pangea Ultima could wipe out human and other mammals from the face of the Earth in about 250 million years. The study is published in Nature Geoscience on Monday, September 25.

The study points out that increased heat stress would be the primary factor behind this mass extinction.

Using supercomputer models, study predicts about the future of the planet when all continents were merged to one. And the newly formed supercontinent, Pangea Ultima would be dry, hot, and unfavourable to mammals.

During the supercontinent era, the temperature would go high as 15 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and up to 30 degrees Celsius on land. Besides, the Sun would emit around 2.5 per cent more radiation and volcanic eruptions would release more carbon dioxide in to the atmosphere. The intense heat would dry out large portions of land, and the loss of vegetation leads to shortage of food supply. The paper’s lead author, Alexander Farnsworth, from the University of Bristol said: “It wouldn’t just be for mammals. It could be for plant life, as well, and other types of life.”

The study stressed the urgency of addressing the current climate crisis posed by greenhouse gas emissions. “The Earth has a very changeable environment. Humans are very lucky with what we have now and we should not be pushing our own climate beyond the cooler climate that we evolved through. We are the dominant species but Earth and its climate decide how long that lasts,” Mr. Farnsworth said.

He added, “What comes after is anyone’s guess. The dominant species could be something completely new.”