What Will Earth Look Like in 250 Million Years?
May 19, 2026
Pangea was not the first supercontinent, and it will not be the last. The continents that are drifting apart today are predicted to come back together in roughly 250 million years to form a new supercontinent. Scientists have different ideas about what that will look like.
The Cycle of Supercontinents
Earth has had several supercontinents before Pangea, including Rodinia around 800 million years ago and Nuna around 1.6 billion years ago. The pattern suggests that continents drift apart after a supercontinent breaks up, then gradually reassemble over hundreds of millions of years before splitting again.
The driving force is the convection of hot rock in the mantle beneath the crust. These convection currents push and pull the tectonic plates, alternately assembling and breaking apart continents on a roughly 300 to 500 million year cycle.
Amasia: A Supercontinent Centered on the Arctic
One of the leading models for the future supercontinent is Amasia, proposed by scientists at Harvard. In this scenario, the Americas continue to move westward and eventually collide with Asia across the Pacific Ocean. The Arctic Ocean closes as the Americas rotate northward, bringing the future supercontinent to a position centered on the North Pole.
Under this model, the Atlantic Ocean continues to widen for another 100 million years before a new subduction zone forms along its eastern margin and begins pulling the continents back together.
Pangea Proxima: A New Southern Supercontinent
Another model, called Pangea Proxima or Novopangea, predicts that the Atlantic will eventually close rather than the Pacific. In this scenario, the Americas reverse their westward drift, the Atlantic closes, and the continents reassemble roughly in the position of the original Pangea.
Africa continues its northward push into Europe, closing the Mediterranean and creating a new mountain range in southern Europe. Australia collides with Southeast Asia, adding another piece to the emerging supercontinent.
All models agree that Earth will have a new supercontinent in roughly 200 to 300 million years. The disagreement is about whether it forms by closing the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean.
What Life Will Be Like on a New Supercontinent
A new supercontinent would have dramatic consequences for life on Earth. The interior of a supercontinent is typically hot, arid, and subject to extreme temperature swings without the moderating influence of the ocean. The formation of Pangea is associated with the Permian mass extinction, the worst in Earth's history.
A new supercontinent would also reduce the total length of coastline, shrinking the shallow marine habitats that support much of ocean biodiversity. The combination of extreme continental climate and reduced marine habitat could trigger significant extinctions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the next supercontinent form?
Most models predict a new supercontinent will form in approximately 200 to 300 million years, though predictions at this timescale are inherently uncertain.
Will the Pacific or Atlantic Ocean close?
This is debated. Some models predict the Pacific closes (forming Amasia), others predict the Atlantic closes (forming Pangea Proxima). Both are scientifically plausible.
Has there been more than one Pangea?
Yes. Scientists have identified several supercontinents before Pangea, including Rodinia (about 800 million years ago), Nuna (about 1.6 billion years ago), and possibly earlier ones.