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New research from the University of Sydney provides insight into the causes of the snowball Earth phenomenon, which occurred when the Earth was almost completely frozen. The study suggests that historically low volcanic emissions and the weathering of large amounts of volcanic rock caused these extreme ice ages.
Snowball Earth was a time when our planet experienced extreme ice house conditions. The entire Earth, from the poles to the equator, was covered with ice, and the temperature dropped sharply. But the causes of these rapid climate changes have long been debated and are a mystery among geologists.
According to a recent study University of SydneyLed by ARC Future Fellow Dr Adriana Dutkiewicz, we provide powerful answers to this climate challenge. Research suggests that the snowball Earth phenomenon was caused by historically low volcanic carbon dioxide emissions. This combined with the weathering of large piles of volcanic rock, a process that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
“Historically low volcanic carbon dioxide emissions, driven by the weathering of large volcanic rock piles, contributed to the snowball Earth phenomenon.” – Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz.
Snowball Earth Mechanism Revealed
To reach this conclusion, researchers from the University of Sydney applied plate tectonics modelling. They studied the evolution of continents and ocean basins following the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Rodinia.
Using advanced computer models, they were able to calculate CO2 degassing from submarine volcanoes along mid-ocean ridges. The results showed that the onset of the Stuart Ice Age, part of the wider Snowball Earth phenomenon, was precisely correlated with an all-time low in volcanic CO2 emissions. Moreover, CO2 outflows remained relatively low throughout the entire Ice Age.
Meaning of Research
Dr. Dutkiewicz said that at the time of Snowball Earth, there were no multicellular animals or land plants. Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are determined almost entirely by CO2 emissions from volcanoes and the process of weathering silicate rocks that consumes CO2. As a result, atmospheric CO2 has declined to the threshold that triggers glaciation (estimated at less than 200 ppm, less than half current levels).
This study not only presents a plausible explanation for the snowball Earth phenomenon, but also highlights the sensitivity of the Earth’s climate to atmospheric carbon concentration. The findings are a stark reminder of the delicate balance that sustains life on Earth and the potential impacts of disrupting this balance.
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