What's happened
Recent research sheds light on the Permian–Triassic mass extinction, revealing that the collapse of tropical forests contributed to prolonged greenhouse conditions. This study, published in Nature Communications, highlights the importance of understanding tipping points in Earth's climate system and their implications for current climate change.
What's behind the headline?
Key Findings
- The study indicates that the decline of tropical forests significantly reduced carbon sequestration, locking Earth in a hothouse state for approximately five million years.
- Researchers utilized fossil records and geological data to reconstruct changes in plant productivity during the extinction event.
- The findings reinforce the concept of climate 'tipping points,' suggesting that once certain thresholds are crossed, ecological recovery may take geological timescales.
Implications
- The research serves as a warning regarding current climate change, emphasizing that a collapse of today's tropical forests could lead to irreversible warming.
- Understanding these historical events is crucial for predicting future climate scenarios and informing conservation efforts.
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the new study published in Nature Communications reveals that the collapse of tropical forests during the Permian–Triassic extinction was a critical factor in the prolonged greenhouse conditions. Dr. Zhen Xu from the University of Leeds stated, "This is the only high temperature event in Earth’s history in which the tropical forest biosphere collapses."
The Ecologist highlights that the research team gathered extensive data from fossil records and geological formations, confirming that vegetation loss led to reduced carbon sequestration. Professor Benjamin Mills noted, "If rapid warming causes [tropical forests] to collapse in a similar manner, then we should not expect our climate to cool to preindustrial levels even if we stop emitting CO2."
These contrasting insights underline the urgency of addressing climate change and the potential consequences of ignoring ecological tipping points.
How we got here
The Permian–Triassic mass extinction, occurring around 252 million years ago, resulted in the loss of up to 94% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate families. Triggered by volcanic activity in Siberia, the event led to intense global warming and ecological collapse, but the reasons for the prolonged high temperatures remained unclear.
Go deeper
- What were the main causes of the Great Dying?
- How does this research relate to current climate change?
- What can we learn from the Permian–Triassic extinction?
More on these topics
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The University of Leeds is a public research university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1874 as the Yorkshire College of Science. In 1884 it merged with the Leeds School of Medicine and was renamed Yorkshire College.
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Nature Communications is a peer-reviewed, open access, scientific journal published by Nature Research since 2010. It is a multidisciplinary journals and it covers the natural sciences, including physics, chemistry, earth sciences, medicine, and biology.
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The Siberian Traps is a large region of volcanic rock, known as a large igneous province, in Siberia, Russia. The massive eruptive event that formed the traps is one of the largest known volcanic events in the last 500 million years.