Scientists have told why there was a mass extinction 250 million years ago. The reasons for the phenomenon were associated with the activity of volcanoes.
Studying the Emirati rocks, scientists have found strong evidence of the "volcanic" theory of mass extinction of marine animals. The fact is that the stony desert of the UAE has undergone minimal changes over millions of years. Various layers of stony deposits, which were the seabed at the end of the Permian, were analyzed in detail.
Volcanic eruptions have resulted in carbon dioxide emissions. Paleontologists believe that the mass extinction took place in several stages. At the first of them, the atmosphere was slowly saturated with carbon dioxide, and this was enough for the death of species more sensitive to changes in the habitat. When the level of emissions reached large scales, what was happening greatly affected the marine environment, destroying up to 90% of aquatic species.
An important conclusion of scientists concerns the fact that a similar situation is repeated in our time. We are talking about the saturation of the atmosphere with carbon dioxide. Thus, humanity can repeat the fate of hundreds of species that existed before it.
Interestingly, according to another group of researchers, an indicator of the beginning of a new mass extinction is the disappearance of some species of snails. These creatures have a very high survival threshold, and their death could be a harbinger of something more.
The Permian Extinction is one of five mass extinctions known to science. Very often, the increase in volcanic activity in Siberia is named as its main reason.