Pangea Ultima: Earth in 250 Million Years
Explanation:
Is this what will become of the Earth's surface?
The surface of the
Earth is broken up into several
large plates that are slowly shifting.
About 250 million years ago, the
plates on which the
present-day continents
rest were positioned quite
differently, so that all the landmasses were clustered together in
one supercontinent now dubbed
Pangea.
About 250 million years from now, the
plates are again projected to reposition
themselves so that a single landmass dominates.
The above simulation from the
PALEAOMAP Project shows this giant landmass:
Pangea Ultima.
At that time, the
Atlantic Ocean will be just a distant memory,
and whatever beings inhabit Earth will be able to walk from
North America to
Africa.
APOD editor to review best
space pictures in Philadelphia on Wednesday
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
