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View of Earth 650 million years ago during the Marinoan glaciation
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View of Earth 650 million years ago during the Marinoan glaciation
This is how the Earth may have appeared about 650 million years ago during a period when snow and ice may have covered most, if not all, of the Earths surface and oceans. This image suggests the Earths appearance during the Marinoan glaciation from 650 to 630 million years ago. The southern and eastern hemispheres are dominated by glacier-covered land masses while the opposing hemisphere is frozen ocean save for a few areas of exposed liquid water, AKA refugia for the Earths surviving soft-bodied multicellular organisms.
In addition to the Marinoan glaciation there may have been at least two, and possibly three previous Proterozoic glacial periods going back to two billion years ago. The causes of these snowball periods are unknown but may have been due to massive volcanic eruptions, massive meteoritic impacts (both resulting in global sun-reflecting ash clouds), or variances in the Earths orbit
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Media ID 13060531
© Walter Myers/Stocktrek Images
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print takes us back in time, providing a glimpse of Earth as it may have appeared 650 million years ago during the Marinoan glaciation. A period when snow and ice potentially blanketed the majority, if not all, of our planet's surface and oceans. The image showcases a stark contrast between the southern and eastern hemispheres, dominated by vast glacier-covered land masses, while the opposing hemisphere reveals frozen oceans with only a few pockets of exposed liquid water acting as refuges for surviving soft-bodied multicellular organisms. The Marinoan glaciation is just one chapter in Earth's history of extreme cold periods. Scientists speculate that there might have been two or possibly three previous Proterozoic glacial periods dating back two billion years ago. However, the exact causes behind these "snowball" episodes remain unknown; they could be attributed to massive volcanic eruptions or meteoritic impacts resulting in global sun-reflecting ash clouds. Variances in Earth's orbit are also considered potential factors. As we contemplate this mesmerizing artwork capturing our planet's distant past, it serves as a reminder of Earth's ever-changing nature and its resilience throughout geological epochs. It prompts us to reflect on environmental issues such as climate change and global warming that impact our world today. This photograph offers an opportunity to appreciate both the beauty and fragility of our home planet while igniting curiosity about its origins and evolution over billions of years.
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