Animation showing the possibility of the formation of the next supercontinent

About 200 million years ago, a massive event began to shape the world as we know it today: the breakup of Pangea, Earth's last supercontinent.

This fragmentation process was driven by the ongoing movement of tectonic plates, a complex phenomenon that science is constantly learning about, as researchers continually improve their models to predict the future of the planet.

The discovery of plate tectonics is relatively recent. It was only in the 1960s, with the advancement of technologies such as echometers and magnetometers, that scientists were able to explain the mechanisms behind plate movement.

Before that, in 1912, German meteorologist Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift and suggested the existence of Pangea, a supercontinent that broke up over time.

Since then, scientists have worked to build models of plate tectonics, integrate new data, and even consider the possibility of the emergence of new continents.

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The model suggests how the supercontinent will form in the future

By analyzing how tides are affected by the movement of tectonic plates, a research team has developed a model that suggests the formation of a possible supercontinent in the future.

Not only do these models provide new insights into the likely formation of continents, but they also contribute significantly to the current understanding of Earth's geological processes. They allow us to better understand the interactions between tectonic plates, global climate, oceans, and even the evolution of life on our planet.

Research into these models also revealed that Earth is experiencing a period of intense tidal activity, expected to last about 20 million years. According to the research he published Advancing earth and space sciencesAs the next supercontinent forms, ocean basins will become large reservoirs of water with low tidal activity.

This can lead to smaller waves and a decrease in the mix of nutrients in the water, affecting the marine ecosystem and life on the ocean floor.

For researchers, studying the separation of Pangea from tectonic plates is key to understanding Earth's geological past and also to envisioning the future and the effects of these processes on the planet and the life that inhabits it.