Why Did The Earth Totally Freeze For 100 Million Years?
History of the Earth・2 minutes read
The text discusses the presence of ancient mammoth engravings in caves, the Last Glacial Maximum, Mawson's Antarctic expedition, global glaciation events in the Neoproterozoic era, and the impact of human-induced climate change on Earth's current climate crisis. Professor Joseph Kirschvink introduces the concept of a snowball earth, raising questions about the Earth's geography and global glaciation events during the Neoproterozoic era.
Insights
- The Last Glacial Maximum, approximately 26,500 years ago, brought about a severe ice age with temperatures 6 degrees Celsius colder than today, covering a significant portion of the Earth's landmass with ice.
- Professor Joseph Kirschvink proposed the concept of a snowball earth, indicating a global glaciation event that disrupted ocean circulation, raising debates within the scientific community about the extent and interpretation of Neoproterozoic glaciations.
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Recent questions
What is the significance of the Lasso caves?
The Lasso caves, dating back around 17,000 years ago, served as a refuge for prehistoric humans during the ice age, providing shelter amidst harsh glacial conditions. These caves showcase engravings and drawings of ancient mammoths, indicating the coexistence of humans with these majestic creatures. The Lasso caves offer valuable insights into the lives of early humans and their interactions with the environment during a challenging period of global cooling.
What were the key findings of Douglas Mawson's Antarctic expedition?
Douglas Mawson's Antarctic expedition in 1912 faced tragic events, resulting in the loss of his companions and his own survival struggles in the harsh Antarctic environment. Despite the challenges, Mawson's geological studies post-Antarctica led to the hypothesis that Australia might have been engulfed in ice during a global glaciation. This hypothesis was later debunked by plate tectonics theories, but Mawson's expedition remains significant for its contributions to Antarctic exploration and scientific knowledge.
What is the Snowball Earth theory?
The Snowball Earth theory suggests that around 700 million years ago during the late Neoproterozoic era, the Earth experienced a global glaciation event, with ice reaching tropical latitudes. This theory proposes that the planet was covered in ice multiple times, leading to a barren, almost lifeless Earth with extreme cold temperatures. The geological evidence from this era points to a series of global glaciations, shaping the Earth's landscape and climate before the emergence of animal life.
How does Earth's current climate crisis impact the Arctic?
Earth's current climate crisis, driven by human-induced warming, is causing drastic changes in the Arctic region. The warming temperatures are leading to the melting of the Arctic permafrost, releasing methane into the atmosphere and exacerbating global warming. This phenomenon has significant implications for the Arctic ecosystem, indigenous communities, and global climate patterns, highlighting the urgent need for climate action to mitigate these effects.
What role do tropical continents play in Earth's cooling processes?
Tropical continents play a crucial role in Earth's cooling processes by continuing weathering activities even as temperatures drop. This ongoing weathering removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, contributing to the cooling of the planet. The presence of land at the tropics allows for uninterrupted cooling without a negative feedback loop, aiding in maintaining a stable climate during periods of global glaciation.
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Summary
00:00
Global Glaciations: Earth's Frozen History Revealed
- The cave of the hundred mammoths in France showcases engravings and drawings of ancient mammoths, coexisting with the Lasso peoples globally.
- The Last Glacial Maximum, around 26,500 years ago, marked a severe ice age with temperatures 6 degrees Celsius colder than today, covering a quarter of the world's land in ice.
- The Lasso caves, dated around 17,000 years ago, served as a refuge during the ice age for prehistoric humans, offering shelter amidst the harsh glacial conditions.
- Douglas Mawson's Antarctic expedition in 1912 faced tragic events, leading to the loss of his companions and his own survival struggles in the harsh Antarctic environment.
- Mawson's geological studies in Australia post-Antarctica led to the hypothesis that Australia might have been engulfed in ice during a global glaciation, later debunked by plate tectonics theories.
- Geological evidence from the late Neoproterozoic era, around 700 million years ago, suggests a global glaciation event, known as Snowball Earth, with ice reaching tropical latitudes.
- The Neoproterozoic era experienced multiple global glaciations, named after the rock formations where they were first identified, such as the Sturtian, Marinoan, and Gaskiers glaciations.
- The Cryogenian period, characterized by extreme global glaciations, saw the Earth transform into an ice-covered world multiple times, impacting the planet's climate and geological features.
- The Cryogenian era, marked by intense ice ages and global glaciations, led to a barren, almost lifeless Earth, with ice extending from the poles to the tropics.
- The Neoproterozoic era's geological evidence points to a series of global glaciations, known as Snowball Earth events, shaping the Earth's landscape and climate before the dawn of animal life.
18:28
Icy Planets and Climate Crisis: Earth's Fate
- The red planet, Mars, has little water frozen at its poles, facing the solar wind.
- Earth's moon passes by a melting comet, while the comet disintegrates due to the sun's heat.
- An icy asteroid is about to meet its end, contrasting with Earth's icy state.
- Earth sits in the sun's habitable zone, yet lacks liquid water, experiencing a global winter.
- The Earth's surface remains frozen, with no liquid water visible in the night skies.
- The Earth's geography remains undifferentiated during the Cryogenian era, with no visible changes.
- Over 90 million years, Earth's icy land and ocean are distinguishable, with life clinging on.
- Life persists beneath the oceanic ice shelf, with microbes surviving in harsh conditions.
- Earth's cryoconites, dark water-filled pits on ice, showcase life's resilience and adaptation.
- Earth's current climate crisis, due to human-induced warming, is causing drastic changes in the Arctic's permafrost, releasing methane and escalating global warming.
36:52
Tropical continents crucial for snowball earth theory
- A large supercontinent near the equator is crucial for a frozen snowball earth, as continents reflect more sunlight, accelerating cooling.
- Tropical continents further cool the planet by continuing weathering processes, removing less carbon dioxide as temperatures drop.
- Land at the tropics allows weathering to persist even as temperatures decrease, leading to uninterrupted cooling without a negative feedback loop.
- The theory of a snowball earth raises questions about the presence of land at the poles or equator during the Cryogenian period.
- Professor Joseph Kirschvink introduced the concept of a snowball earth, suggesting global glaciation cut off ocean circulation.
- Disagreement exists in the scientific community regarding the extent of Neoproterozoic glaciations, with challenges in interpreting evidence.
- The possibility of a "slush ball earth" with ice extending to subtropical latitudes is considered, suggesting a dynamic Earth with periodic ice coverage changes.
