Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
07:28
Evolution of Staircase Structures in Diffusive Convection
Published on: September 5, 2018
Dynamics of a Snowball Earth ocean
Yosef Ashkenazy1, Hezi Gildor, Martin Losch
1Department of Solar Energy and Environmental Physics, The Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, 84990, Israel. ashkena@bgu.ac.il
Nature
|March 8, 2013
Summary
The Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth may have had a dynamic, well-mixed ocean with vigorous circulation, contrary to previous assumptions. This ocean dynamics influenced melting rates and photosynthetic life survival during global glaciation.
Area of Science:
- Paleoclimatology
- Oceanography
- Geophysics
Background:
- The Snowball Earth hypothesis proposes a globally glaciated planet during the Neoproterozoic era.
- Understanding ocean dynamics is crucial for interpreting geological evidence and assessing life's survival during these extreme climates.
Observation:
- Geological evidence indicates widespread marine ice cover reaching equatorial regions multiple times in the Neoproterozoic.
- Previous models often assumed sluggish ocean circulation beneath thick ice cover.
Findings:
- A coupled ice flow and ocean circulation model reveals a dynamic Snowball Earth ocean with vigorous mixing and circulation.
- Strong equatorial currents, eddy fields, and coastal upwelling were present, leading to significantly higher continental melt rates.
- Vertical mixing rates were substantially higher than in the modern ocean.
Implications:
- These findings challenge the notion of a stagnant ocean, suggesting conditions potentially more favorable for photosynthetic life.
- The dynamic ocean circulation has implications for nutrient supply, banded iron formations, and resolving the Snowball Earth controversy.
- Improved understanding of ocean dynamics provides constraints for interpreting geochemical and sedimentological records.
Related Concept Videos
02:06Conditions on Early Earth
Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.
02:06Conditions on Early Earth
Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.
01:06Tidal Forces
The origin of Earth's ocean tides has been a subject of continuous investigation for over 2000 years. However, the work of Newton is considered to be the beginning of the proper understanding of the phenomenon. Ocean tides are the result of gravitational tidal forces. These same tidal forces are present in any astronomical body; they are responsible for the internal heat that creates the volcanic activity on Io, one of Jupiter's moons, and the breakup of stars that get too close to black holes.
01:30Dynamics of Circular Motion
An object undergoing circular motion, like a race car, is accelerating because it is changing the direction of its velocity. This centrally directed acceleration is called centripetal acceleration. This acceleration acts along the radius of the curved path (thus is also referred to as radial acceleration).
Any acceleration must be produced by some force. Therefore, any force or combination of forces can cause centripetal acceleration. A few examples include the tension in the rope on a...
Any acceleration must be produced by some force. Therefore, any force or combination of forces can cause centripetal acceleration. A few examples include the tension in the rope on a...
00:55Acceleration due to Gravity on Earth
Newton's second law is closely related to his first law of motion. It mathematically gives the cause-and-effect relationship between force and changes in motion. Newton's second law is quantitative and is used extensively to calculate what happens in situations involving a force. All external forces acting on a system add together to produce a net force Fnet. A larger net external force produces a larger acceleration. This acceleration is directly proportional to, and in the same direction as,...
01:21Acceleration due to Gravity on Earth
According to Newton's law of gravitation, the gravitational force on a body is proportional to its mass. According to Newton's second law of motion, the acceleration produced by an external force is inversely proportional to the force. Hence, the acceleration of an object under an external force of gravitation is independent of its mass.
The acceleration of an object close to the Earth, because of the Earth's gravitational pull, is called the acceleration due to gravity. It is always directed...
The acceleration of an object close to the Earth, because of the Earth's gravitational pull, is called the acceleration due to gravity. It is always directed...