The Pacific Ocean, which covers a third of the earth’s surface, could no longer exist within 300 million years. It would close to allow the existence of a supercontinent on Earth.
The largest ocean of our planet is not eternal. In 200 to 300 million years, the Pacific Ocean will probably no longer exist. It would close, to make way for a supercontinent, Amasia. In any case, this is what scientists anticipate, in a study published by the National Science Review on September 28, 2022, spotted by Universe Today October 10.
« One of the main characteristics of the tectonic evolution of the earth is the cycle of the supercontinents for about 2 billion yearsthe researchers point out, which is characterized by cyclic assembly and dispersal of major continents with a periodicity of about 600 million years. The way these continents come together is linked to the tectonic plates themselves (their properties) and their interactions with the Earth’s mantle.
The closing of an ocean, or extroversion, occurs when the continents come together. Here, North America and Asia would come together, causing the Pacific Ocean to close. There would then remain the Atlantic and Indian oceans, which would form a vast and unique superocean.
And supercontinent is a continent made up of several other continents. In the strict sense, we speak of a supercontinent when it incorporates at least 75 % landmasses present.
It turns out that the Earth has been cooling for billions of years, as recalled a statement from Curtin University (Australia) presenting the new study. Consequently, the thickness and resistance of the plates located under the oceans weaken over time. According to scientists, this phenomenon has a consequence: it is unlikely that the assembly of the next supercontinent will take place with the closure of relatively young oceans, such as the Atlantic Ocean or the Indian Ocean.
The Pacific Ocean would close to make way for the Amasia continent
The researchers came to this conclusion using a supercomputer, simulating the evolution of tectonic plates, resulting in the formation of a supercontinent. According to them, it is very likely that the Pacific Ocean will close in less than 300 million years. This would result in the formation of Amasia, with the collision of America and Asia (hence the name given to the continent). ” Model results predict that the next supercontinent, Amasia, will form by extroversion closing the Pacific Ocean “, they summarize in their study. Australia is expected to hit Asia first, before connecting America and Asia as the ocean closes.
This projection reminds us that the existence of the Pacific Ocean is not immutable. Even in the past, it hasn’t always been there. The Pacific Ocean is itself a remnant of an ancient superocean, the Panthalassa. It was the single ocean that surrounded Pangea, the last supercontinent that began to disassemble ages ago. 180 million years.
More generally, this underlines the extent to which the existence of the present 7 terrestrial continents is only a phase in the geological history of our planet. In 200 to 300 million years, the Earth could be very different. We are only at middle of current cycle assembly and dispersal of the supercontinent. Moreover, the advent of Amasia is only one of the 4 scenarios envisaged for the formation of the next supercontinent.
