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Post by Lone Wanderer on Apr 23, 2019 3:54:35 GMT
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190415122249.htmMercury found in ancient rock around the world supports theory that eruptions caused 'Great Dying' 252 million years ago. Researchers say mercury buried in ancient rock provides the strongest evidence yet that volcanoes caused the biggest mass extinction in the history of the Earth. The extinction 252 million years ago was so dramatic and widespread that scientists call it 'the Great Dying.' The catastrophe killed off more than 95 percent of life on Earth over the course of hundreds of thousands of years.Shen said the Permian extinction could shed light on how global warming today might lead to the next mass extinction. If global warming, indeed, was responsible for the Permian die-off, what does warming portend for humans and wildlife today? "The release of carbon into the atmosphere by human beings is similar to the situation in the Late Permian, where abundant carbon was released by the Siberian eruptions," Shen said. Algeo said it is cause for concern. " A majority of biologists believe we're at the cusp of another mass extinction -- the sixth big one. I share that view, too," Algeo said. "What we should learn is this will be serious business that will harm human interests so we should work to minimize the damage." People living in marginal environments such as arid deserts will suffer first. This will lead to more climate refugees around the world. "We're likely to see more famine and mass migration in the hardest hit places. It's a global issue and one we should recognize and proactively deal with. It's much easier to address these problems before they reach a crisis."
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Post by Elizabeth on Apr 23, 2019 17:16:33 GMT
I'm confused with their dating methods as I am like 99% of the time. I thought carbon dating and other dating methods only gave relative ages not exact....but 252 million seems exact. Basically...volcanoes seem like one example of a mass extintion but I see no definitive proof of the year(s) it was at its peak time.
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Post by Lone Wanderer on Apr 23, 2019 17:47:05 GMT
I'm confused with their dating methods as I am like 99% of the time. I thought carbon dating and other dating methods only gave relative ages not exact....but 252 million seems exact. Basically...volcanoes seem like one example of a mass extintion but I see no definitive proof of the year(s) it was at its peak time. There is a documentary about mass extinction events. You should watch it: www.imdb.com/title/tt1327845/
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Post by mainrain on May 7, 2019 11:44:46 GMT
While these are speculative accounts, it is fascinating nonetheless to wonder about this. Just how much life has been extinguished on this planet over all of time--not to mention how much life is lost and birthed everyday. Life is a miracle indeed.
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