Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Home
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Music
    • Fashion
    • Books
    • Science
    • Technology
    • Cover Story
    • Contact
      • About
      • Amazon Disclaimer
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Privacy Policy
      • DMCA / Copyrights Disclaimer
    TopBuzzMagazine.com
    Home»Science»Geology experts find evidence of dual mass extinctions 260 million
    Science

    Geology experts find evidence of dual mass extinctions 260 million

    By AdminApril 28, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Geology experts find evidence of dual mass extinctions 260 million

    An international team of researchers discovered evidence that a mass extinction 260 million years ago was actually two events separated by 3 million years. Scientists say both likely were caused by volcanic eruptions. Credit: Margaret Weiner/UC Marketing + Brand

    Long before dinosaurs, Earth was dominated by animals that were in many ways even more incredible.

    Carnivores such as Titanophoneus, or “titanic murderer,” stalked enormous armored reptiles the size of buffalo.

    Many of these animals died out in a mass extinction during the Capitanian Age approximately 260 million years ago.

    Now an international team of researchers says evidence suggests this mass extinction was not a single event but two, separated by nearly 3 million years. Both were caused by the same culprit: massive volcanic eruptions.

    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 life-giving oxygen.

    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.

    Looming climate disaster

    By studying these ancient extinctions, researchers can better predict how modern-day global warming could affect the ocean’s food chain.

    “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.

    Scientists have identified the five biggest mass extinctions, including the most cataclysmic of all 252 million years ago called “the great dying” that wiped out 90% of ocean life and 70% of land animals. This disaster, too, was caused by massive volcanic activity that turned the seas into dead zones, said Algeo.

    “The Capitanian extinctions are not among the Big Five, but they are significant,” Algeo said.

    How do volcanic eruptions lead to extinctions?

    Algeo said massive eruptions create a brief period of cooling from ash in the upper atmosphere reflecting sunlight, followed by much longer periods of global warming. The release of massive volumes of greenhouse gases warmed the oceans. The warm surface water did not allow dissolved oxygen to reach lower depths, eventually destroying the food chain.

    “The ocean is teetering on the edge of anoxia,” he said of this absence of oxygen. “Dissolved oxygen has to be taken up by the surface layer and supplied to the deep ocean. But warmer water is lower density. When you increase the density differential, you prevent any overturn and there’s no way to get dissolved oxygen into the deeper layers.”

    One way researchers identify these massive volcanic eruptions is by looking for mercury in the sedimentary layers.

    “Mercury has been shown to be a useful proxy for volcanic eruptions,” Algeo said. “Large volcanic eruptions spew mercury into the atmosphere that gets carried around Earth and deposited in marine sediments.”

    Scientists say the volcanic eruptions that caused the great dying originated in Siberia. The eruptions that caused the twin mass extinctions in the Permian took place in southwest China in a place known as the Emeishan Large Igneous Province.

    Algeo said he would like to see if any terrestrial evidence supports the conclusions derived from their study of ancient oceans. He is optimistic that geology will unlock more mysteries about prehistoric life on Earth.

    “Over the last 40 years we’ve made tremendous strides in understanding the Earth’s past,” Algeo said. “It’s partly because we have all these new tools we can apply. And we have many more people working in this field than we had a generation ago.”

    Researcher Song said the dual disasters in the Permian show the devastating effects that global warming can have.

    “We must pay attention to these environmental issues and prevent the sixth mass extinction,” he said.

    More information: Huyue Song et al, Global oceanic anoxia linked with the Capitanian (Middle Permian) marine mass extinction, Earth and Planetary Science Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118128

    Provided by University of Cincinnati

    Citation: Geology experts find evidence of dual mass extinctions 260 million years ago (2023, April 7) retrieved 28 April 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-04-geology-experts-evidence-dual-mass.html

    This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

    Read The Full Article Here

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    Comprehensive study examines properties of 1,449 planetary nebulae across the Milky Way

    October 23, 2025

    Mysterious glow at the Milky Way’s center could reshape a major cosmic theory

    October 22, 2025

    Antidepressants vary widely in their physical side effects

    October 22, 2025

    Geophysical-machine learning tool developed for continuous subsurface geomaterials characterization

    October 21, 2025

    Pair of ‘holy’ islands in eerily green African lake hold centuries-old relics and mummified emperors — Earth from space

    October 21, 2025

    A distant comet is forming new rings while we watch in real time

    October 20, 2025
    popular posts

    Combating counterfeiting: Advanced hologram protection invented

    Taylor Swift Previews “Back to December (Taylor’s Version)” in The

    Smashing Pumpkins and Erewhon Unite for New “OG Goth” Smoothie

    Strawberries Have 8 Sets of Chromosomes to Thank for Their

    What are You Reading This Week?

    What Is a Burkini — and Why Has It Become

    Niecy Nash Reacts to The Rookie: Feds Cancellation

    Categories
    • Books (3,487)
    • Cover Story (8)
    • Events (20)
    • Fashion (2,570)
    • Interviews (47)
    • Movies (2,787)
    • Music (3,072)
    • News (162)
    • Politics (6)
    • Science (4,638)
    • Technology (2,782)
    • Television (3,512)
    • Uncategorized (932)
    Archives
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube Reddit TikTok
    © 2025 Top Buzz Magazine. All rights reserved. All articles, images, product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement unless specified. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT