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Climate extremes likely to drive land mammal extinction during next supercontinent assembly

Earth Sciences

Climate extremes likely to drive land mammal extinction during next supercontinent assembly

A. Farnsworth, Y. T. E. Lo, et al.

Explore how mammals, which have survived for 55 million years, may face unprecedented climate challenges due to the formation of Pangea Ultima and rising CO2 levels. This compelling study by Alexander Farnsworth and colleagues employs climate modeling to uncover potential mass extinction scenarios resulting from altered thermal tolerances.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
Mammals have thrived for 55 million years, demonstrating resilience to climate change. However, the formation of Pangea Ultima in ~250 million years, coupled with increased atmospheric CO2, solar energy, and continentality, will likely create a climate exceeding mammalian physiological limits, leading to mass extinction. This study uses climate modeling to assess the impact on mammalian thermal tolerances, highlighting the critical role of global landmass configuration, CO2 levels, and solar luminosity in planetary habitability.
Publisher
Nature Geoscience
Published On
Sep 25, 2023
Authors
Alexander Farnsworth, Y. T. Eunice Lo, Paul J. Valdes, Jonathan R. Buzan, Benjamin J. W. Mills, Andrew S. Merdith, Christopher R. Scotese, Hannah R. Wakeford
Tags
mammals
climate change
Pangea Ultima
thermal tolerances
CO2 levels
climate modeling
mass extinction

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