Unveiling the ‘Great Dying’: How 90% of Life Vanished and 5 Million Years of Scorching Heat Changed Our Planet—Insights from New Fossil Discoveries

Around 252 million years ago, Earth faced its worst disaster. This event, known as the “Great Dying,” wiped out about 90% of life. What caused this massive extinction has intrigued scientists for years.

After the catastrophe, the planet became extremely hot, with temperatures that remained high for around five million years. Recent research might finally unravel this mystery. A team of scientists has linked the deadly heat to the collapse of tropical forests.

Their study, published in Nature Communications, reveals alarming insights. As humans continue to warm the planet, understanding these ancient patterns can give us clues about our future.

The Great Dying marked the end of the Permian period. It was mainly caused by volcanic eruptions in the Siberian Traps, where massive amounts of carbon and other greenhouse gases poured into the atmosphere, triggering severe global warming. This led to the deaths of countless marine and land species and caused oceans to become more acidic.

Scientists had speculated on various reasons for the prolonged heat after the volcanic activity stopped. Some suggested that the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon was diminished, possibly due to the extinction of carbon-absorbing plankton. However, researchers from the University of Leeds and the China University of Geosciences propose a different explanation: the loss of tropical forests.

“This extinction event is unique because it’s the only one where plants died off extensively,” explained Benjamin Mills, a co-author of the study. He highlighted how crucial forests were in keeping carbon levels in check.

To investigate, researchers analyzed fossil and rock data, reconstructing maps of vegetation before and after the extinction. “Nobody’s ever made maps like these before,” Mills said, emphasizing their groundbreaking approach.

The results confirmed that the loss of forests led to a substantial increase in atmospheric carbon. Forests help remove carbon through a process called “silicate weathering,” which relies on healthy plants to break down rocks and allow fresh air and water to reach them. Without forests, the carbon cycle changes dramatically.

As Michael Benton, a paleontology expert, noted, the decline of forests disrupts the balance of oxygen and carbon. This could mean that even if we reduce carbon emissions today, the effects might linger for a long time.

The findings also raise concerns about potential “tipping points” in our climate. Rapid global warming could trigger the collapse of today’s rainforests, which serve as vital climate buffers. Mills warns that if we push tropical forests too far, history shows us the consequences — and they’re dire.

Interestingly, modern rainforests might be more resilient to heat than their ancient counterparts. This could be an area for future research.

In summary, the Great Dying teaches us a critical lesson: forest ecosystems are crucial. Their health directly impacts our climate. This study underscores the need for careful consideration of how we manage our environment, or we may face consequences similar to those of the distant past.

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mass extinction event, tropical forests, Zhen Xu, University of Leeds, Nature Communications, Benjamin Mills, volcanic activity, climate conditions, China University of Geosciences