The Latest Explanation for the Great Dying a Boiling Hot Worldwide Flood

One of Earth’s most devastating mass extinction events, known as the Great Dying or the Permian-Triassic Extinction, wiped out nearly 90% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial life approximately 252 million years ago. While scientists have long speculated about its causes, a new hypothesis proposes an astonishing explanation: a boiling hot worldwide flood triggered by a catastrophic chain of events.

The Great Dying marked the end of the Permian period and the beginning of the Triassic, fundamentally reshaping life on Earth. Fossil records reveal massive die-offs in oceans and on land, with biodiversity taking millions of years to recover. Previous theories suggested volcanic activity, methane releases, or asteroid impacts as potential causes, but the latest explanation centers on an interplay of extreme geological and environmental phenomena.

A recent study posits that the Great Dying may have been caused by a boiling hot flood resulting from:

1. Massive Volcanic Eruptions: The Siberian Traps, a vast region of volcanic rock in modern-day Russia, were formed by one of the largest volcanic events in Earth’s history. These eruptions released immense quantities of carbon dioxide, methane, and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere.

2. Global Warming and Oceanic Heating: The volcanic activity led to a dramatic increase in global temperatures, warming the oceans to extreme levels. This warming likely caused widespread stratification in the oceans, preventing the circulation of oxygen and creating anoxic conditions.

3. Hydrothermal Activity and Methane Hydrates: The ocean floor may have experienced hydrothermal activity, releasing vast quantities of superheated water. Additionally, destabilized methane hydrates on the seafloor could have erupted, contributing to the heating and further releasing greenhouse gases.

4. Boiling Floodwaters: As temperatures soared, some researchers suggest that parts of the ocean may have reached near-boiling temperatures. The combination of boiling water and acidic conditions caused by sulfur dioxide could have resulted in widespread marine die-offs and exacerbated the collapse of ecosystems.

Researchers point to several lines of evidence that support this theory:

• Fossil Records: Marine fossils from the period show signs of sudden, widespread extinction consistent with extreme environmental stress.
• Geochemical Analysis: Rocks from the Permian-Triassic boundary contain unusually high levels of sulfur isotopes and carbon deposits, suggesting intense volcanic activity and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Temperature Modeling: Climate models indicate that volcanic activity during this period could have raised global temperatures by as much as 10-15 degrees Celsius, enough to cause catastrophic environmental changes.

If validated, this hypothesis provides a new perspective on the interconnectedness of geological and biological processes during mass extinctions. It also underscores the vulnerability of Earth’s ecosystems to rapid changes in temperature and atmospheric composition.

Moreover, the hypothesis has implications for understanding modern climate change. Although current conditions differ from those during the Permian-Triassic period, the events offer a stark reminder of how quickly environmental shifts can disrupt life on a global scale.

Despite its intrigue, the boiling flood hypothesis raises several questions:

• Could ocean temperatures have truly reached boiling levels, or were they simply lethally high for most marine life?
• What role did other factors, such as asteroid impacts or microbial activity, play in exacerbating the extinction?
• How does this hypothesis align with existing evidence from other mass extinction events?

Scientists continue to analyze rock records, model climate scenarios, and investigate volcanic activity to refine our understanding of the Great Dying and its causes.

The boiling flood hypothesis offers a dramatic and compelling explanation for the Permian-Triassic extinction. Whether or not it becomes the leading theory, it highlights the complexity of mass extinction events and their profound impact on the history of life on Earth.

Sources:

1. National Geographic: The Permian-Triassic Extinction
2. Nature Geoscience: Climate Models of the Great Dying
3. Scientific American: The Siberian Traps and Mass Extinctions
4. Geology Today: Fossil Evidence from the Permian-Triassic Boundary
5. The Latest Explanation for the Great Dying a Boiling Hot Worldwide Flood...Sound Familiar???

Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research.

More News Brutal Truth