Uncovering the Theories Behind the Permo-Triassic Extinction: A Devastating Event That Changed Life on Earth Forever

Permo-Triassic Extinction

At the end of the Paleozoic there was a mass extinction (largest in geologic history). Known as the “Great Dying”; 95% of marine life forms went extinct, and 65% of amphibians and 33% of insects went extinct.

The Permo-Triassic Extinction is one of the worst extinction events in the history of life on Earth, with roughly 96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial species going extinct. This event occurred approximately 252 million years ago at the end of the Permian period and the beginning of the Triassic period.

There are several theories about what caused the Permo-Triassic Extinction, including:

1. Massive volcanic eruptions: Huge volcanic eruptions occurred in what is now Siberia for hundreds of thousands of years. The intense volcanic activity spewed enormous amounts of lava and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The release of all that carbon dioxide caused a global warming effect, leading to dramatic changes in climate patterns, including acid rain, rising sea levels and temperatures, and an overall decrease in oxygen levels.

2. Impact event: Some scientists believe that an asteroid or comet impact was responsible for the extinction. Evidence suggests that there was a large impact crater formed at the P-T boundary in Antarctica. However, no conclusive evidence has been found to support this theory.

3. Methane hydrates: Another theory suggests that the oceanic bacteria that produced methane hydrates, which can store 20 times more greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, were responsible for the extinction event. During the shift in the Earth’s climate, these deposits could have been released into the oceanic atmosphere and caused a chain reaction, which led to global warming and other climate changes.

The Permo-Triassic Extinction had major, long-lasting effects on life on Earth. It took millions of years for life to recover and for new species to evolve and diversify. The event has been compared to a “biological reset button” for life on Earth.

More Answers: