Mega El Nios May Have Sparked The Greatest Mass Extinction Event In Earth's History

Researchers have determined that the Great Dying, the mass extinction event that occurred 252 million years ago was likely accentuated by catastrophic “mega El Nios” that devastated ecosystems. These extreme weather events caused significant swings in the climate that killed off vast amounts of life.

The Great Dying, also known as the Permian-Triassic extinction event, is considered the most severe extinction event in Earth’s history, eventually wiping out around 90 percent of Earth's species. However, despite its significance for life on this planet, the ultimate kill mechanism for this mass extinction has remained uncertain.

For a long time, scientists believed the Great Dying was caused by emissions from volcanic eruptions in what is now Siberia, which triggered a rapid global temperature spike. The eruptions released enormous quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere that, like today, caused ocean temperatures to rise. But they also made this water stagnant, lowering the oxygen levels until marine creatures died off.

This explanation, however, has holes in it. One significant problem is that land species, including plants and insects that were usually resilient, had already started to die off tens of thousands of years before those in the sea. Since then, other suggestions have been offered.

“Climate warming alone cannot drive such devastating extinctions because, as we are seeing today, when the tropics become too hot, species migrate to the cooler, higher latitudes,” Dr Alexander Farnsworth, Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol, explained in a statement.

“Our research has revealed that increased greenhouse gases don’t just make the majority of the planet warmer, they also increase weather and climate variability making it even more wild’ and difficult for life to survive.”

El Nio events occur due to fluctuating ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and can have significant impacts on the global climate. They can cause extreme weather, such as increased rainfall in places like the Horn of Africa and the southern United States, while causing dry conditions and draughts in places like Southeast Asia, Australia, and southern Africa. El Nio can also contribute to wildfires and disrupt ecosystems.