The climates of Earth's next supercontinent: effects of tectonics, rotation rate, and insolation
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Standard Standard
In: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, Vol. 22, No. 8, e2021GC009983, 08.2021.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
HarvardHarvard
APA
CBE
MLA
VancouverVancouver
Author
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - The climates of Earth's next supercontinent: effects of tectonics, rotation rate, and insolation
AU - Way, Michael
AU - Davies, Hannah
AU - Duarte, Joao
AU - Green, Mattias
PY - 2021/8
Y1 - 2021/8
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
U2 - 10.1029/2021GC009983
DO - 10.1029/2021GC009983
M3 - Article
VL - 22
JO - Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
JF - Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
SN - 1525-2027
IS - 8
M1 - e2021GC009983
ER -