New predictions reveal that the future of our planet looks exceedingly bleak, as a study conducted by a supercomputer indicates that Earth is heading towards a "triple blow" that could lead to human extinction. According to scientists, a combination of food supply shortages, rising sea levels, and increasingly hot regions of the planet that become uninhabitable will ultimately result in the extinction of nearly all mammals, including humans.
However, the cause may not be what we imagine. While climate change poses a very real threat to today's inhabitants, this horrific scenario predicted by the supercomputer will result from all continents colliding to form one giant landmass. Fortunately, this hot, dry, and largely uninhabitable supercontinent is not expected to occur for another 250 million years.
By this future stage, the sun will be brighter, and the Earth’s temperature will rise further. The formation of the supercontinent will lead to more frequent volcanic eruptions, producing high emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). Together, this will raise Earth's temperature to between 40 to 50 degrees Celsius.
Lead author Dr. Alexander Farnsworth from the University of Bristol stated, "The emerging supercontinent will effectively create a triple blow that includes continental impacts, a hotter sun, and increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, resulting in higher temperatures over significant parts of the planet."
Continental climate is one of the factors influencing climate based on the distance of regions from the sea. Dr. Farnsworth explains, "The result is predominantly hostile environments lacking food and water sources for mammals. Humans, along with many other species, will perish due to their inability to dissipate this heat through sweating and to cool their bodies."
The international team of scientists applied climate models and simulated trends in temperature, wind, rainfall, and humidity for the next supercontinent. To estimate the future level of carbon dioxide, the team utilized models for tectonic plate movement, ocean chemistry, and biology to outline gas inputs and outputs.
The model predicts that when the supercontinent, called Pangaea Ultima, forms, only between 8% to 16% of the Earth will be habitable for mammals. However, co-author Dr. Eunice Liu emphasized the importance of not dwelling on anxiety about the future scenario but instead focusing on the present. She added, "It is crucial not to overlook the current climate crisis we are facing, which is a result of human emissions of greenhouse gases. While we expect the planet to be uninhabitable in 250 million years, we are already witnessing extreme heat that jeopardizes human health today. That is why achieving net-zero emissions as soon as possible is vital."
Dr. Farnsworth continued, "The long-term predictions appear exceptionally grim. CO2 levels could be double the current levels. With the sun expected to emit approximately 2.5% more radiation and the supercontinent primarily situated in warm and humid tropical regions, a large portion of the planet could experience temperatures between 40 to 70 degrees Celsius."
He noted, "This work also highlights that the world within the so-called habitable zone of the solar system may not be the most suitable for humans, depending on whether the continents are scattered as they are today or combined into one giant landmass." Scientists clarify that although Earth will remain in the "habitable zone" over the next 250 million years, higher levels of carbon dioxide will render most of the world uninhabitable.
