Next supercontinent could wipe out humans

Computer simulations suggest that the future formation of a supercontinent on Earth, dubbed Pangea Ultima, could boost warming and push humans and other mammals to extinction


EARTH’S GEOGRAPHY: Today 

In 250 million years (projected) 
Pangea Ultima


EXTREME HEAT: Much of Pangea Ultima would be uninhabitable to most
mammalian life

ALASKA
NORTH AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
New York
AFRICA 
Nairobi
Lima
EUROPE
INDIA
ANTARCTICA
London
SCANDINAVIA
ASIA
AUSTRALIA 
NEW ZEALAND
Tokyo
Equator

Average surface-air temperature in August (°C)
0 8 16 24 32 40 48


Volcanoes
As continents merge and drift apart, tectonic activity will release huge amounts of planet-warming carbon dioxide (CO2) into atmosphere

Dryness
In continental interiors, lack of moisture would diminish amount of silica washed into oceans, which usually removes CO2 from atmosphere

Solar energy
Ageing sun is predicted to be about 2.5% more luminous at time of Pangea Ultima’s formation, further contributing to global warming


Sources: Nature Geoscience, National Geographic
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