rocksea
30th August 2005, 10:43 AM
A computer simulation of the Earth's climate 250 million years ago suggests that global warming triggered the so-called "great dying".
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40728000/gif/_40728324_temp_inf203.gif
A dramatic rise in carbon dioxide caused temperatures to soar to 10 to 30 degrees Celsius higher than today, say US researchers.
The warming had a profound impact on the oceans, cutting off oxygen to the lower depths and extinguishing most lifeforms, they write in the latest issue of Geology.
The research adds to the growing body of evidence that higher temperatures, rather than a giant space rock hitting the planet, led to the greatest mass extinction in history.
more at bbc: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4184110.stm
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif
PERMO-TRIASSIC EXTINCTION
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40982000/gif/_40982339_pangean3_inf203.gif
The greatest of all Earth's mass extinctions occurred about 250 million years ago
About 95% of marine species and three-quarters of all families on the Pangean (above) landmass perished
Rocks from the end of the Permian period can be seen today in places such as China, Italy and Pakistan
Chief suspects include sea-level fluctuations, volcanic activity, space impacts and melting methane-ice in sea sediments
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40728000/gif/_40728324_temp_inf203.gif
A dramatic rise in carbon dioxide caused temperatures to soar to 10 to 30 degrees Celsius higher than today, say US researchers.
The warming had a profound impact on the oceans, cutting off oxygen to the lower depths and extinguishing most lifeforms, they write in the latest issue of Geology.
The research adds to the growing body of evidence that higher temperatures, rather than a giant space rock hitting the planet, led to the greatest mass extinction in history.
more at bbc: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4184110.stm
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif
PERMO-TRIASSIC EXTINCTION
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40982000/gif/_40982339_pangean3_inf203.gif
The greatest of all Earth's mass extinctions occurred about 250 million years ago
About 95% of marine species and three-quarters of all families on the Pangean (above) landmass perished
Rocks from the end of the Permian period can be seen today in places such as China, Italy and Pakistan
Chief suspects include sea-level fluctuations, volcanic activity, space impacts and melting methane-ice in sea sediments