Surprising Discovery Shows How Slowing of Continental Plate Movement Controlled Earth’s Largest Volcanic Events
Many of the most destructive extinction events in Earth's history can be traced back to significant volcanic events that occurred millions of years ago and caused significant climatic and biological disruption. Scientists have now provided additional information regarding the date and most likely origin of these catastrophic volcanic episodes. Surprisingly, the new research reveals that the crucial event that allowed magma to come to the Earth's surface and cause the catastrophic knock-on effects was a slowing of continental plate movement. Today, September 9, 2022, the work will be published in the prestigious international journal Science Advances. Large Igneous Provinces, or significant volcanic eruptions, have occurred throughout Earth's history (LIPs). The most significant of these led to significant increases in atmospheric carbon emissions, which warmed Earth's climate, triggered extraordinary changes in ecosystems, and brought about massive extinctions on land a...