Volcanoes Started Earth’s ‘Great Dying.’ This Unexpected Plant Made It Worse
Ancient climate research identifies a link between widespread wildfires and a major extinction event during the Triassic period.
What happened
New findings indicate that continental-scale wildfires occurred across Europe during a period of extreme global warming 201 million years ago. These fires persisted for thousands of years throughout the end-Triassic greenhouse era.
Coverage from outlets including Nature, Phys.org, and Gizmodo emphasizes the role of fern savannahs in these wildfires. Reports suggest that while volcanic activity initiated the environmental changes known as the 'Great Dying,' specific vegetation played a significant role in worsening conditions.
Future reports may provide further clarity on how these plant-fueled infernos influenced the broader climate during this historical extinction period. Coverage does not yet specify the full extent of the ecological impact across other continents beyond Europe.
Synthesized by headlinez.news from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 45d ago.
Questions people are asking
What event is linked to the wildfires?
The fires occurred during a period of extreme global warming known as the end-Triassic greenhouse warming.
How long did the fires last?
According to coverage from Phys.org and The Conway Daily Sun, the fires raged for thousands of years.
What plants were involved?
Nature reports that the wildfires involved continental-scale fern savannahs.
Coverage (7)
- Ancient global warming fueled a fiery chapter in Europe's past Courthouse News · 45d ago
- Fern-Fueled Wildfires Raged across Europe for Millennia during End-Triassic Mass Extinction Sci.News · 45d ago
- Fires raged across Europe during “extreme global warming” 201 million years ago IslanderNews.com · 45d ago
- Fires raged for thousands of years during ancient global warming The Conway Daily Sun · 45d ago
- Triassic inferno: Fires raged across Europe for millennia during past global warming Phys.org · 45d ago
- Continental-scale fern savannah wildfires during end-Triassic greenhouse warming Nature · 45d ago
- Volcanoes Started Earth’s ‘Great Dying.’ This Unexpected Plant Made It Worse Gizmodo · 45d ago
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