Volcanic Warming Tied to Marine Extinctions, Fossil Study Reveals

Quick Summary

• A study published in Science Advances by Prof. Shuzhong Shen’s team from Nanjing University reveals the impact of climate fluctuations on marine life during the Late Paleozoic era (340-250 million years ago).
• Findings indicate stable global cooling fostered rapid evolution and diversification of marine organisms, including fusuline foraminifera, while abrupt warming caused mass extinctions.
• Fusuline foraminifera experienced two major diversification events and four extinction crises over 91.8 million years. Their decline was linked to volcanic activities in the Emeishan Igneous Province (~260 million years ago) and end-Permian supervolcanic eruptions (~252 million years ago).
• Current human-induced global warming surpasses ancient warming rates associated with these events, raising concerns about modern marine ecosystem survival.
• researchers constructed a high-resolution (<45,000-year interval) diversity curve using supercomputing and AI algorithms based on data from 299 stratigraphic sections and over 2,000 species.
• The study highlights the role of climate change in shaping biodiversity dynamics and calls for urgent action to mitigate current climate threats.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The findings underscore how past episodes of extreme climate fluctuations profoundly impacted planetary ecosystems-a relevant parallel given today’s rapid anthropogenic warming trends. For India, as a nation heavily reliant on coastal ecosystems for fisheries, biodiversity research can inform conservation strategies amidst worsening environmental challenges.

Investments in big-data-driven methodologies similar to this study could help India better assess changes within its own diverse ecological zones. As leaders in international forums advocating against climate change, India may also leverage these scientific narratives to push forward global cooperation on emission reductions.

These results act as a stark reminder of Earth’s geological resilience but also underline its vulnerability; safeguarding India’s natural resources requires urgent attention toward curbing warming effects exacerbated by industrialization.

Read More