Mega El Niño Events Linked to Earth's Greatest Mass Extinction

New research reveals that extreme El Niño patterns, exacerbated by volcanic activity, played a crucial role in the end-Permian mass extinction 252 million years ago.

The end-Permian mass extinction wiped out over 90% of marine species and 75% of terrestrial species, making it the most severe extinction event in Earth's history.
Scientists have long attributed this event to volcanic eruptions in Siberia, which released massive amounts of CO2, leading to rapid global warming.
New evidence suggests that prolonged and intense mega El Niño events caused extreme climate variability, making it impossible for most species to adapt.
These mega El Niños caused drastic temperature swings, widespread droughts, and severe flooding, further destabilizing ecosystems.
The extinction on land occurred tens of thousands of years before marine species were affected, likely due to the inability of land species to migrate quickly enough to cooler areas.