Climate change caused by volcanic eruptions laid the foundation for the rise of the dinosaurs | science and technology news

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A new study has revealed how the emergence of dinosaurs more than 230 million years ago coincided with environmental changes caused by massive volcanic eruptions.

Known as the Late Triassic episode, this time period of massive climate change is defined by rising temperatures and humidity around the entire Earth.

Prior to CPE, the climate of the supercontinent Pangea is believed to have been generally dry, but during this period it became humid and ripe for life.

A team of researchers, including experts from the University of Birmingham, analyzed sediment records and fossil plants from a lake in the Geyuan Basin in north China.

They found that these records showed an association between “pulses of volcanic activity with significant environmental changes,” including the Pacific “mega monsoon” climate.

Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and detail four distinct episodes of volcanic activity, including major eruptions from the large igneous county of Wrangellia.

Also known as the Wrangellia Terrane, after the Wrangell Mountains in Alaska, this piece of tectonic crust is believed to have been the source of the massive volcanic activity that changed Earth’s climate about 230 million years ago.

The main cause of this climate change was the introduction of huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and oceans during this period.

The increased volume of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has led to global warming, and thus hastened the hydrological cycle, which means more rain.

Professor Jason Hilton, co-author of the study and expert in paleobotany and paleoenvironments at the University of Birmingham, explained the findings.

Within two million years, animal and plant life in the world has undergone major changes including selective extinctions in the marine sphere and the diversification of plant and animal groups on land.

“These events coincide with a wonderful period of heavy rain known as the Carnian Pluvial Ring,” said the professor.

“Our research shows, in a detailed record from a lake in northern China, that this period can actually be resolved in four different events, each one driven by discrete pulses of strong volcanic activity associated with massive releases of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These caused an increase in temperatures Global temperature and humidity.

Evidence for major climatic changes was also found in Central Europe, Eastern Greenland, Morocco, North America and Argentina, and found that increased precipitation in the CPE led to the convergence of Pangea drainage basins into lakes and swamps rather than rivers or oceans.

Co-author Dr Sarah Green added: “Our results show that large volcanic eruptions can occur in multiple, discrete pulses – demonstrating their powerful potential to alter the global carbon cycle, disrupt climate and hydrology and drive evolutionary processes.”

Dr Emma Dunn, a paleontologist at the University of Birmingham, who was not involved in the study, commented: ‘This relatively long period of volcanic activity and environmental change could have had devastating consequences for animals on Earth.

“By this time, dinosaurs were just beginning to diversify, and it is likely that without this event, they would never have reached the ecological dominance that we see for the next 150 million years,” Dr. Dunn said.

Professor Hilton added: “In addition to dinosaurs, this remarkable period in Earth’s history was also important for the emergence of modern pine groups and had a major impact on the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems and animal and plant life – including ferns, crocodiles, turtles, insects and the first mammals.”

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