Deadly Volcanic Eruptions Led to Twin Mass Extinctions About 260 Million Years Ago

Volcanic eruptions millions of years apart wiped out much of life on Earth.

Massive volcanic eruptions millions of years apart caused two mass extinctions during the Middle Permian Period, according to a study of uranium isotope profiles in marine samples. The findings highlight the potential effects of modern-day global warming on ocean food chains and the importance of addressing environmental issues to prevent further extinctions.

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.

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

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.

The above story is based on Materials provided by University of Cincinnati.