Scientists have predicted will happen when the sixth mass extinction
Scientists from mit have calculated that by 2100 the oceans may accumulate a quantity of carbon sufficient for the death of living beings.
Their findings the researchers presented in the pages of Science Advances.
Over the past 540 million years, the Earth has experienced five mass extinctions. During each of these, the normal cycle of carbon in the atmosphere and oceans violated.
The researchers analyzed changes in the carbon cycle over the past 540 million years. They identified the valid values, in case of exceeding of which the carbon cycle became unstable, and living creatures died.
Researchers believe that mass extinction will occur if the carbon cycle will change faster, than he will be able to adapt to the ecosystem.
“Given the recent rise in carbon emissions in a relatively short period of time, the fate of the sixth mass extinction will depend on whether accumulate a critical amount of carbon in the ocean,” said study author Daniel Rothman.
The critical number scientists estimate is 310 gigatons. This is equivalent to amount of carbon, which, as experts predict, will accumulate due to human activities in the oceans by 2100.
“Does this mean that the mass extinction will happen at the turn of the century? For such environmental disasters will take some time, about 10 thousand years. However, if you do not stop the process of accumulation of carbon in the ocean, the sixth mass extinction could happen sooner,” concluded Rothman.