Pangea was an ancient supercontinent that brought all seven continents together. About 200 million years ago, it began to break apart, giving us the map we know today. Some scientists now believe these tectonic processes could reverse, leading to the formation of another supercontinent.
A 2018 study in Geological Magazine outlines four possible scenarios for how this might happen, all depending on the future of our oceans. Will they keep expanding, or will they start closing?
One scenario suggests the Atlantic Ocean will continue to widen while the Pacific shrinks. This is happening because the Pacific Ocean has subduction zones where oceanic plates dive beneath continental plates. This area is known for its earthquakes—80% of the world’s major earthquakes occur here, in the Ring of Fire. In this model, North and South America would drift away from Europe and Africa, eventually colliding with a moving Antarctica. This would lead to a massive landmass called “Novopangea.”
Another theory, called “Pangea Proxima,” imagines the Atlantic and Indian Oceans expanding until new subduction zones pull the continents back together. This would create a ring-shaped continent around a smaller ocean.
The “Aurica” model proposes that Earth’s oceans could eventually close down. If the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans close but the Indian Ocean keeps expanding, all seven continents might come together along the equator, forming Aurica.
Lastly, the “Amasia” scenario suggests that while the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans remain open, the Arctic Ocean could close off. In this case, most continents except Antarctica would move northward, clustering close to the North Pole.
Recent climate simulations offer different outcomes for these scenarios. A study in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems highlighted two dramatically different worlds. If Amasia forms, and land is concentrated near the poles, the ocean conveyor belt—an essential circulation system that moves heat—could be disrupted. This may lead to colder, ice-covered poles, while increased ice sheets might reflect more heat back into space.
On the other hand, Aurica would likely be warmer. Because it would be closer to the equator, temperatures could rise by about three degrees Celsius, leading to a climate similar to today’s Brazil, complete with sandy beaches and vibrant coral reefs. However, merging continents would also lead to fierce competition among species for resources, raising concerns about possible mass extinctions.
Experts like Alex Pullen from Clemson University stress that predicting the future is fraught with uncertainty. We can’t know how plants will evolve or how volcanic carbon dioxide emissions will change the atmosphere over millions of years. Models often overlook factors like aerosols, tiny particles that affect climate.
Michael Way from NASA adds that human impacts today—like climate change and pollution—will also shape the Earth’s future. For our species to survive millions of years into the future, we may need to live in greater harmony with our environment.
The discussion around these potential supercontinents is not just a scientific curiosity; it reflects ongoing questions about our planet’s resilience and the complex relationship between humanity and nature. Our future might be uncertain, but understanding these scenarios helps us contemplate our place in Earth’s long storyline.
