The Climates of Earth’s Next Supercontinent: Effects of Tectonics, Rotation Rate, and Insolation

Abstract We explore two possible Earth climate scenarios, 200 and 250 million years into the future, using projections of the evolution of plate tectonics, solar luminosity, and rotation rate. In one scenario, a supercontinent forms at low latitudes, whereas in the other it forms at high northern la...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Main Authors: M. J. Way, H. S. Davies, J. C. Duarte, J. A. M. Green
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021
Subjects:
Geophysics. Cosmic physics
QC801-809
Geology
QE1-996.5
Antarctic
South Pole
Antarc*
South pole
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GC009983
https://doaj.org/article/d264d3a5aa4a46eb82004e6a18074fb8
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Summary:Abstract We explore two possible Earth climate scenarios, 200 and 250 million years into the future, using projections of the evolution of plate tectonics, solar luminosity, and rotation rate. In one scenario, a supercontinent forms at low latitudes, whereas in the other it forms at high northern latitudes with an Antarctic subcontinent remaining at the south pole. The climates between these two end points are quite stark, with differences in mean surface temperatures approaching several degrees. The main factor in these differences is related to the topographic height of the high latitude supercontinents where higher elevations promote snowfall and subsequent higher planetary albedos. These results demonstrate the need to consider multiple boundary conditions when simulating Earth‐like exoplanetary climates.

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