Explosive volcanoes ended Earth's time as a snowball: Huge eruptions broke our planet's deep freeze

MailOnline ^ | 01/18/2016 | Ryan O'Hare for

[BenLurkin]

In our planet's early history, 720 to 640 million years ago, thick sheets of ice covered the majority of the surface, as the Earth was locked in a deep freeze.

But explosive underwater volcanoes changed the chemistry of the Earth's oceans and were key to breaking the planet from its icy state, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Southampton believe underwater volcanoes helped to thaw out "Snowball Earth", and even led to runaway chemical chain reactions, which created the conditions for an explosion of life on Earth.

While much of the driving forces behind glaciation during the "Snowball Earth" era is unclear, scientists believe the breakup of the super-continent Rodinia was fundamental to the climatic shift.

As the super-continent began to "unzip", tearing apart down the middle and breaking off into smaller land masses, it leached tons of sediment into the oceans.

This sediment acted as a sponge to suck up the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, robbing the planet of its heat trapping mechanism and causing the Earth to remain locked in cryostasis.

But explosive volcanic activity in the shallow oceans created in by the unzipping landmass spewed carbon dioxide into the air.

In addition, the sediment they pumped out - rich in calcium, magnesium and phosphorus - caused large mineral lumps, called cap carbonates to form, leading to a runaway chemical chain reaction which may have created an atmosphere much friendlier to life.

[BenLurkin]

Scientists believe the breakup of the super-continent Rodinia (illustrated) from around 750 million years ago, was fundamental to the climatic shift. As the super-continent began to 'unzip', tearing apart down the middle , it leached tons of sediment into the oceans, which absorbed carbon dioxide and kept the Earth cool

Researchers at the University of Southampton believe that underwater volcanoes played a major role in breaking the global freeze of 'Snowball Earth' by produing the heat needed to thaw the surface (illustrated). The volcanoes are thought to have been triggered by the landmasses tearing apart into continents

[SierraWasp]

Man speculates and plans and GOD laughs!!!

[UCANSEE2]

I question the idea that the ice sheets expanded from what we now call the Arctic and Antarctic. The existence of tropical forests under the miles of ice sheets might mean that those areas were part of the ‘tropics’ along the equator and Canada/North America might have been the ‘south pole’.

[Smokin' Joe]

The volcanoes are thought to have been triggered by the landmasses tearing apart into continents

A little bassackwardy goes a long way. The upwelling in the mantle caused the rifting--ultimately the volcanic activity is what tore the continents apart.

[Fungi]

“720 to 640 million years ago.” All articles that give dates such as these so blissfully and “authoritatively” are nonsense. Notice the basis for these time frames is never given, nor can be. It is based upon a “religious” faith, independent of science, one that has so many assumptions it refutes its own premise, boggling the mind to to those who see the false premise.

[dfwgator]

I thought it was all those SUVs that caused the Earth to warm up.

[Alter Kaker]

Why would God laugh at men trying to understand their world and their history? Does God laugh at historians? Geographers? Explorers?

[Glad2bnuts]

We are not the first civilization that rose on this rock we call Earth. We most likely are not even the most advanced. Man is so arrogant, he will not even study what does not fit his belief.

[SubMareener]

North American Craton is starting to move, again Published on Jan 18, 2016 Laurentia (North American Craton) is a large continental craton that forms the ancient geological core of the North American continent. Many times in its past, Laurentia has been a separate continent as it is now in the form of North America, although originally it also included the cratonic areas of Greenland and also the northwestern part of Scotland, known as the Hebridean Terrane. During other times in its past, Laurentia has been part of larger continents and supercontinents and itself consists of many smaller terranes, Scene of NEW MADRID QUAKE.

[SierraWasp]

You would not understand the answer unless God struck you blind like he did Saul of Tarsus, then healed your blindness and gave you understanding as he did the Apostle Paul.

[SierraWasp]

In other words:

1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

[Smokin' Joe]

We most likely are not even the most advanced. Man is so arrogant, he will not even study what does not fit his belief.

Agreed.

[justa-hairyape]

Looks like a monster snow storm might hit the DC area in 5 days. Up to 4 feet possible. Alright. DC will be paralyzed ! See iceagenow.info

[justa-hairyape]

Something must screw up the carbon dating method. Those pyramids were not built by those Egyptians living in Cairo. Heck they can barely feed themselves. My hunch is a global nuclear war makes accurate dating methods impossible. But who knows.

[RedHeeler]

So, did the Mayan/Aztec build their temples, or not?

[justa-hairyape]

Do not know about them specifically, but my guess is some just took over ancient ruins and created a story to explain their creation. It would be impossible to tell the difference now, assuming of course our dating methods are messed up when the nukes, or asteroid hits, occur. You should not assume you were the first advanced civilization. And we do. Which creates an observational bias.

[RedHeeler]

Indeed.

I would enjoy a conversation with you, at some point in time.

Thanks for your logic.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin.

join or quit view topics view or post blog bookmark post new topic subscribe

---

KEYWORDS: glaciation; joekirschvink; poleshift; snowballearth; truepolarwander

---

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin.

---

KEYWORDS: glaciation; joekirschvink; poleshift; snowballearth; truepolarwander

---

[gleeaikin]

Then again, there just may be mostly heavy rain, at least IN DC and Baltimore. Much better chance of big snow to the west. A good site for tracking change there.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?site=lwx&FcstType=text&map.x=261&map.y=111&site=LWX&mp=1#.Vp3qF_krKM9