The collision triggers a chemical reaction that causes carbon dioxide to be sucked from the atmosphere.
A team of U.S. researchers has found that the last three major ice ages—which took place over 540 million years—were all preceded by massive tectonic pile-ups around the equator. Their findings, published in the journal Science, provide a new insight into the cause of ice ages, which up until now was thought to relate to volcanic eruptions.
Researchers then looked to see if they could find this pattern in other ice ages. They traced back cooling events from the last 540 million years and matched them to the locations of continental collisions. Findings showed that just before each ice age, there were collisions in the tropics. At the moment, there is a zone in Indonesia where two tectonic plates are colliding. This could potentially be what was responsible for the current ice age—and why we have a cool climate and ice caps today. “When that ends in about 10 million years, we expect that the Earth will go back to a non-glacial climate state,” Macdonald told Newsweek.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Over 40 ice fishermen rescued after ice floe breaks off in Lake ErieThe Coast Guard rescued 46 fishermen who were stranded after the ice sheet they were standing on broke off near Catawba Island in Lake Erie.
Read more »
Enormous solar storm that hit Earth 2,600 years ago could be biggest ever detectedShould a similar event take place today, it would have a devastating effect on society, scientists say.
Read more »
SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule returns to Earth after historic test flightSpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule has returned safely to Earth, wrapping up its inaugural mission to the ISS. - NBCNewsMACH
Read more »
Top House appropriator: climate research, education top NASA budget prioritiesEarth science and education programs are two areas the Trump administration tried to cut in its fiscal 2019 budget request, although Congress eventually restored funding to those areas
Read more »
Global map shows the places left on earth where the world's wildlife can take refugeThe human threat to wildlife is driving the current mass extinction crisis, experts warn.
Read more »