According to climate models, the formation of a supercontinent, called Pangea Ultima, could occur in about 250 million years. This immense landmass, resulting from the convergence of current continents, would generate an extreme climate characterized by high temperatures and severe drought.
A unified Earth... but inhospitable
Researchers predict that this supercontinent would be marked by temperatures ranging between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius, with even higher daily extremes. These conditions are thought to be exacerbated by an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, due to more frequent volcanic eruptions and an increase in the energy emitted by a brighter sun.
Alexander Farnsworth, lead researcher of the study published in Nature, explains that this combination of factors would create a virtually unlivable environment for humans and other mammals. The ability of these species to regulate their body temperature through sweating would be compromised, making survival in extreme heat and humidity nearly impossible.
Although these predictions are for the very distant future, the study authors warn against complacency in the fight against current climate change. The already observable effects of global warming, such as extreme heat waves, have a direct impact on human health and biodiversity. Eunice Lo, co-author of the study, emphasizes the urgency of achieving net-zero emissions targets to prevent the consequences predicted for Pangea Ultima from becoming a reality on a much shorter time scale.
The need for immediate action is all the more pressing given that the latest UN report reveals that, without a significant reduction in global warming, billions of individuals and many species will no longer be able to adapt. Benjamin Mills, co-author of the report, adds that even if we stopped fossil fuel exploitation today, CO2 levels could double from current levels, a prospect that could materialize much sooner without effective measures.
The study by the University of Bristol researchers certainly focuses on future events on a geological timescale. But it serves as a poignant reminder of the immediate challenges we face. The possibility of a future in which our planet becomes hostile to life as we know it puts into perspective the crucial importance of efforts made today to moderate climate change. In any case, it reinforces the urgency of sustained and immediate climate action, which is essential to preserve the conditions for life on Earth.
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