This scenario is one possible projection; it assumes the eventual development of a subduction zone in the West Atlantic that would overcome the spreading at the mid Atlantic ridge, eventually sealing the basin. I don’t understand the mechanisms well enough to know how that prediction was made, so someone with more experience on the subject can chime in.
I’m, unfortunately, likely in the same boat, as far as expertise is concerned. I have a degree in geochemistry, and I agree with your analysis of the assumptions made to produce this model, but all of the projections I’ve seen until this one suggested the closing of the pacific basin.
Consider that much of the pacific mid-ocean ridge (the only thing preventing the closure of the pacific basin) is already being actively subducted under the eastern pacific boundary. Think about that: the spreading boundary itself is being subducted. This makes one wonder how it would be conceivable that the pacific basin widens in the future, despite the vast majority of the world’s active subduction boundaries being along the pacific rim.
That stood out to me, too; I wonder if that model assumes the shrinkage of the Pacific reverses when the Atlantic starts to close. strange. I also didn’t see them try to account for the rifting in Africa, perhaps they assume that will fail to complete like the North American one did
I thought the pacific was getting smaller and the Atlantic was getting larger? I would expect the America’s to meet with east Asia.
Okay. Glad I’m not the only one and I can’t believe I had to scroll so far.
This scenario is one possible projection; it assumes the eventual development of a subduction zone in the West Atlantic that would overcome the spreading at the mid Atlantic ridge, eventually sealing the basin. I don’t understand the mechanisms well enough to know how that prediction was made, so someone with more experience on the subject can chime in.
Im gonna guess, from your response, you have the most experience on the subject of anyone we will find in this thread.
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I’m, unfortunately, likely in the same boat, as far as expertise is concerned. I have a degree in geochemistry, and I agree with your analysis of the assumptions made to produce this model, but all of the projections I’ve seen until this one suggested the closing of the pacific basin.
Consider that much of the pacific mid-ocean ridge (the only thing preventing the closure of the pacific basin) is already being actively subducted under the eastern pacific boundary. Think about that: the spreading boundary itself is being subducted. This makes one wonder how it would be conceivable that the pacific basin widens in the future, despite the vast majority of the world’s active subduction boundaries being along the pacific rim.
That stood out to me, too; I wonder if that model assumes the shrinkage of the Pacific reverses when the Atlantic starts to close. strange. I also didn’t see them try to account for the rifting in Africa, perhaps they assume that will fail to complete like the North American one did
From what the wikipedia page tells, under this hypothesis atlantic will stop widening in about 125 millions years, and begin to shrink.