‘Snowball Earth’: How volcanoes saved our planet from its deepest freeze in history
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
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Earth’s Frozen Past
700 million years ago, our planet was an icy white orb—completely frozen from pole to equator.
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A Sunken Sun
During Snowball Earth, glaciers reflected sunlight into space, locking the planet in a deep freeze.
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The Great Thaw
Volcanoes pumped CO₂ into the atmosphere for millions of years—until a runaway greenhouse effect melted the ice.
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Glaciers, the Life Givers
As ice retreated, it unleashed minerals into the oceans—fueling conditions that may have led to complex life.
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The Ultimate Climate Crisis
The Cryogenian deep freeze was triggered by falling CO₂ levels—showing how fragile Earth’s climate really is.
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Planetary Reset Button
Massive ice sheets bulldozed the land, grinding ancient rock into nutrient-rich dust that reshaped ocean chemistry.
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Slushball Earth?
Some scientists believe Earth never fully froze—leaving thin strips of open water where primitive life clung on.
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A Warning from History
Snowball Earth proves that climate can change dramatically—what lessons does it hold for today’s warming world?
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Earth’s Ultimate Comeback
From a frozen wasteland to a life-filled world, Snowball Earth was one of our planet’s greatest transformations.
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