Impact-induced initiation of Snowball Earth
- Autor(en)
- Minmin Fu, Dorian S. Abbot, Christian Koeberl, Alexey Fedorov
- Abstrakt
During the Neoproterozoic and Paleoproterozoic eras, geological evidence points to several“Snowball Earth”episodes when most of Earth’s surface was covered in ice. These global-scale glaciations represent the most marked climate changes in Earth’s history. We show that the impact winter following an asteroid impact comparable in size to the Chicxulub impact could have led to a runaway ice-albedo feedback and global glaciation. Using a state-of-the-art atmosphere-ocean climate model, we simulate the climate response following an impact for preindustrial, Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), Cretaceous-like, and Neoproterozoic climates. While warm ocean temperatures in the preindustrial and Cretaceous-like climates prevent Snowball initiation, the colder oceans of the LGM and cold Neoproterozoic climate scenarios rapidly form sea ice and demonstrate high sensitivity to the initial condition of the ocean. Given suggestions of a cold pre-Snowball climate, we argue the initiation of Snowball Earth by a large impact is a robust possible mechanism, as previously suggested by others, and conclude by discussing geologic tests.
- Organisation(en)
- Department für Lithosphärenforschung
- Externe Organisation(en)
- Yale University, University of Chicago
- Journal
- Science Advances
- Band
- 10
- ISSN
- 2375-2548
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adk5489
- Publikationsdatum
- 02-2024
- Peer-reviewed
- Ja
- ÖFOS 2012
- 105105 Geochemie
- ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
- General
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 13 – Maßnahmen zum Klimaschutz
- Link zum Portal
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/6f1f3973-21f0-44b9-a2e1-e54522a63582