The climates of Earth’s next supercontinent: effects of tectonics,
rotation rate, and insolation
Abstract
We explore two possible Earth climate scenarios, 200 and 250 million
years into the future, using projections of the evolution of plate
tectonics, solar luminosity, and rotation rate. In one scenario, a
supercontinent forms at low latitudes, whereas in the other it forms at
high \change{northerly}{northern} latitudes with an
Antarctic subcontinent remaining at the south pole. The climates between
these two end points are quite stark, with differences in mean surface
temperatures approaching several degrees. The main factor in these
differences is related to the topographic height of the high latitude
supercontinents where higher elevations promote snowfall and subsequent
higher planetary albedos. These results demonstrate the need to consider
\change{alternative}{multiple} boundary conditions
when simulating Earth-like exoplanetary climates.