Study Shows Tropical Forest Collapse Triggered Prolonged Global Warming After Earth's Great Extinction

The collapse of tropical forests during Earth's most catastrophic extinction event was the primary cause of the prolonged global warming which followed, according to new research.

The Permian–Triassic Mass Extinction—sometimes referred to as the 'Great Dying,' happened around 252 million years ago, leading to the massive loss of marine species and significant declines in terrestrial plants and animals.

Now a team of international researchers has gathered new data supporting the theory that the demise of tropical forests and their slow recovery limited carbon sequestration, resulting in high levels of CO2 for around five million years after the extinction event.

The study, published in Nature Communications, used fossil records and climate clues to reconstruct changes in plant productivity during the Permian–Triassic Mass Extinction.

The lead author, Dr. Zhen Xu, stated that the collapse of tropical forests was a key factor in the extreme warming during the event, highlighting the importance of tropical forests in regulating climate.

The researchers believe their findings show the existence of 'tipping points' in Earth's climate system, which can amplify warming when reached.

This work leverages China's extensive geological record of the Permian-Triassic mass Extinction, gathered over decades by generations of Chinese geologists.

The study emphasizes the importance of tropical forests in the present day, warning that their collapse could have long-lasting impacts on the climate even if human CO2 emissions are reduced to zero.

According to the source: Phys.org.