The way Earth's 'thermostat' works may have changed during Pangea era
Life arose on Earth at least 3.5 billion years ago, and our planet has remained habitable ever since—not too hot, not too cold. These life-sustaining conditions are possible in part thanks to a built-in, carbon cycle–based climate "thermostat" that controls the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The Earth's thermostat, which helps maintain stable temperatures suitable for life over long periods, may have undergone a shift during the era of Pangea, according to a new study. This thermostat operates through a carbon cycle–based climate system that controls atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Scientists believe the mechanism operates in one of two modes: temperature-driven or hydrology-driven.
Temperature-driven weathering relies on heat to break down rocks, while hydrology-driven weathering depends on water runoff to dissolve minerals. The study, published in Nature Communications, found evidence suggesting the thermostat operated predominantly in the temperature-driven mode for most of the past 480 million years. However, around the time of Pangea, the mechanism briefly switched to the hydrology-driven mode, possibly due to the supercontinent's arid conditions.
This shift could provide new insights into Earth's climate regulation, past climate mechanisms, and the planet's future as the Sun becomes brighter.
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