Maintenance of the great late Ediacaran ice age

Geological records witness extensive glaciations in the late Ediacaran, ranging from ~580 to 560 Ma or younger. However, the explanation of maintenance for this regionally diachronous and globally continuous glacial epoch is still unclear. Here, using the Earth system model (CESM 1.2.2) and the revised weathering model, we demonstrate that the newly exposed regions with high weatherability from glaciated continents to ice-free tropics, controlled by true polar wander (TPW), could increase weathering rate to maintain uninterrupted late Ediacaran ice age, especially during 575-565 Ma. The atmospheric CO₂ level would be <280 ppmv in 575-565 Ma and <140 ppmv in 580 Ma and 560 Ma, but all higher than 35 ppmv to avoid the snowball Earth condition. The CO₂ fluctuation during the late Ediacaran ice age could be confined within twice that in 580 Ma. Therefore, TPW might facilitate the interactions of Earth's interior and surface, leading to spectacular biosphere innovation.