Thursday, May 03, 2007

Supercontinents Might Be Their Own Worst Enemy

Earth's mega-volcanic eruptions may be the direct result of mega continents getting in the way.

A new computer simulation that looks at how heat moves out from the center of our planet confirms the idea that the supercontinent Pangea could have acted like a thermal dam to that heat flow.

Might be a bit misplaced chronologically, but the idea has merit for the Permian and Siberian Traps. that means if Dr Scotese is correct for the future layout of the world, expect that there will be some serious mass extinctions around the continent's breakup.

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