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Why supercontinents became shorter lived as the Earth evolved
1Earth Dynamics Research Group, the Institute for Geoscience Research, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University, Perth WA 6845, Australia.
Science Bulletin
|February 4, 2023
Summary
The supercontinent cycle
Area of Science:
- Earth Sciences
- Geodynamics
- Tectonics
Background:
- The supercontinent cycle, the assembly and break-up of supercontinents, has influenced Earth's evolution for over two billion years.
- Supercontinent lifespans have decreased over geological time, from Nuna/Columbia (~300 Myr) to Rodinia (200-250 Myr) and Pangaea (~150 Myr).
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the causes behind the secular decrease in supercontinental lifespan.
- Understand the relationship between supercontinent duration and geological processes.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 3-D geodynamic modeling.
- Utilized realistic tectonic settings in simulations.
Main Results:
- Supercontinent lifespan is primarily controlled by the yield stress of newly formed orogens during assembly.
- The yield stress of young orogens has decreased over time.
Conclusions:
- Hypothesize that decreasing mantle temperatures due to Earth's secular cooling weaken new orogens.
- This weakening of orogens likely contributes to the observed decrease in supercontinental lifespan over geological time.
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