Mega El Niños Linked to Earth's Largest Mass Extinction
New research suggests that extreme El Niño events, exacerbated by volcanic activity, contributed to the Permian-Triassic extinction 252 million years ago.
Overview
- The Permian-Triassic extinction, known as the Great Dying, wiped out over 90% of Earth's species.
- Volcanic eruptions in Siberia released massive amounts of CO2, leading to extreme global warming.
- Prolonged and intense El Niño events caused wild climate swings, making survival difficult for many species.
- Land species began to go extinct tens of thousands of years before marine species due to rapid temperature increases.
- The loss of vegetation, which normally absorbs CO2, further intensified global warming and environmental instability.