Mega El Niño instigated the end-Permian mass extinction

Sun, Yadong; Farnsworth, Alexander; Joachimski, Michael M.; Wignall, Paul B.; Krystyn, Leopold; Bond, David P.G.; Ravidà, Domenico C.G.; Valdes, Paul J.

Abstract

The ultimate driver of the end-Permian mass extinction is a topic of much debate. Here, we used a multiproxy and paleoclimate modeling approach to establish a unifying theory elucidating the heightened susceptibility of the Pangean world to the prolonged and intensified El Niño events leading to an extinction state. As atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide doubled from about 410 to about 860 ppm (parts per million) in the latest Permian, the meridional overturning circulation collapsed, the Hadley cell contracted, and El Niños intensified. The resultant deforestation, reef demise, and plankton crisis marked the start of a cascading environmental disaster. Reduced carbon sequestration initiated positive feedback, producing a warmer hothouse and, consequently, stronger El Niños. The compounding effects of elevated climate variability and mean state warming led to catastrophic but diachronous terrestrial and marine losses.

Citation

Sun, Y., Farnsworth, A., Joachimski, M. M., Wignall, P. B., Krystyn, L., Bond, D. P., Ravidà, D. C., & Valdes, P. J. (2024). Mega El Niño instigated the end-Permian mass extinction. Science, 385(6714), 1189-1195. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado2030

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 5, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Sep 13, 2024
• Publication Date: Sep 13, 2024
• Deposit Date: Aug 6, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 20, 2024
• Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.)
• Print ISSN: 0036-8075
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 385
• Issue: 6714
• Pages: 1189-1195
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado2030
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4785016