Mass Extinction Event 259-263 Mya via volcanic activity.

AI Thread Summary
Recent research published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters indicates that oxygen-deprived oceans were responsible for two significant mass extinctions during the Middle Permian Period, approximately 259 and 262 million years ago. The study, led by Huyue Song from the China University of Geosciences, highlights parallels between past environmental crises and current global issues, such as global warming, ocean hypoxia, and biodiversity decline. Co-author Thomas Algeo emphasizes that human activities are replicating the effects of volcanic eruptions by releasing carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to these modern challenges. The findings underscore the urgency of addressing contemporary environmental changes that mirror those of the Permian biocrisis.
pinball1970
Gold Member
Messages
3,499
Reaction score
5,473
TL;DR Summary
From physics org.

" researchers says evidence suggests this mass extinction was not a single event but two, separated by nearly 3 million years.

By studying uranium isotope profiles of marine samples collected in the South China Sea, scientists identified two "pulses" in which the oceans became deprived of oxygen.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0012821X23001413?via%3Dihub
In a study published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, researchers say their analysis provides evidence that the oxygen-deprived oceans precipitated two mass extinctions around 259 million and 262 million years ago during the Middle Permian Period.

"We are studying the biocrisis in the Permian Period, but similar warming is happening today because of human events," said Thomas Algeo, a study co-author and University of Cincinnati professor of geosciences. "Humans are mimicking the effects of volcanic eruptions as a consequence of the release of carbon into the atmosphere."

The study was led by researcher Huyue Song at the China University of Geosciences, a former postdoctoral researcher at UC.

"Today, we are facing several global change issues, including global warming, ocean hypoxia, seawater acidification and biodiversity decline, which are similar to the environmental changes during the Middle Permian biological crisis interval," Song said."
 
  • Like
  • Skeptical
Likes Bystander, Astronuc and Drakkith
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
@Bystander Should I have put a question mark in the title? Or something more substantial?
 
On August 10, 2025, there was a massive landslide on the eastern side of Tracy Arm fjord. Although some sources mention 1000 ft tsunami, that height represents the run-up on the sides of the fjord. Technically it was a seiche. Early View of Tracy Arm Landslide Features Tsunami-causing slide was largest in decade, earthquake center finds https://www.gi.alaska.edu/news/tsunami-causing-slide-was-largest-decade-earthquake-center-finds...
Hello, I’m currently writing a series of essays on Pangaea, continental drift, and Earth’s geological cycles. While working on my research, I’ve come across some inconsistencies in the existing theories — for example, why the main pressure seems to have been concentrated in the northern polar regions. So I’m curious: is there any data or evidence suggesting that an external cosmic body (an asteroid, comet, or another massive object) could have influenced Earth’s geology in the distant...
Back
Top