## Volcanic Eruptions Led to Massive Climate Warming Throughout Earth’s History
Large-scale volcanic eruptions have repeatedly triggered massive climate warming throughout Earth’s history. A recent international study involving Swiss researchers reveals the profound long-term impact of such events on ecosystem regeneration and climate balance.
Throughout history, Earth has witnessed several periods of intense volcanic activity, leading to the release of vast amounts of greenhouse gases and rapid climate warming. In some cases, these eruptions caused mass extinctions.
The study, published in the journal Science, involved researchers from ETH Zurich, the universities of Arizona and Leeds (UK), the CNRS in Toulouse (France), and the Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). The team analyzed sediment isotopes and used a computer model to track vegetation’s role in regulating the geological climate system.
The researchers focused on three significant climate changes in Earth’s history, including the Siberian Traps event, which occurred approximately 252 million years ago and triggered the Permian-Triassic extinction.
Millions of Years for Recovery
“The Siberian Traps event released an estimated 40,000 gigatons of carbon over 200,000 years, leading to a temperature rise of five to ten degrees Celsius,” explains Taras Gerya, a geophysics professor at ETH Zurich. “This climatic shock caused the greatest extinction event in Earth’s history.”
“It took millions of years for vegetation to recover from this event, during which Earth’s carbon-climate regulation was likely weak and ineffective, leading to prolonged warming,” adds Julian Rogger, the study’s lead author.
The study reveals that the time required for the climate to reach a new equilibrium state depends on how quickly vegetation can adapt to rising temperatures.
The Crucial Role of Vegetation
“Our study emphasizes the vital role vegetation plays in Earth’s ability to recover from climate changes,” emphasizes Loïc Pellissier, a researcher at ETH Zurich and WSL. “However, human-induced deforestation poses a significant threat to natural ecosystems’ climate regulation capacity.”
The study concludes by urging the global community to take action to protect forests and preserve Earth’s climate regulation system.
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