Posted on 03/31/2009 3:27:00 PM PDT by decimon
The largest mass extinction in the history of the earth could have been triggered off by giant salt lakes, whose emissions of halogenated gases changed the atmospheric composition so dramatically that vegetation was irretrievably damaged. At least that is what an international team of scientists have reported in the most recent edition of the "Proceedings of the Russian Academy of Sciences" (Dokladi Earth Sciences). At the Permian/Triassic boundary, 250 million years ago about 90 percent of the animal and plant species ashore became extinct. Previously it was thought that volcanic eruptions, the impacts of asteroids, or methane hydrate were instigating causes. The new theory is based on a comparison with today's biochemical and atmospheric chemical processes. "Our calculations show that airborne pollutants from giant salt lakes like the Zechstein Sea must have had catastrophic effects at that time", states co-author Dr. Ludwig Weißflog from the Helmholtz-Center for Environmental Research (UFZ). Forecasts predict an increase in the surface areas of deserts and salt lakes due to climate change. That is why the researchers expect that the effects of these halogenated gases will equally increase.
(Excerpt) Read more at alphagalileo.org ...
Salty dog ping.
“New theory on largest known mass extinction in the history of the earth”
The largest known mass extinction will be the ignorant American sheeple.
Methane emission from giant prehistoric cow fish did ‘em in.
Strange theory. The oceans themselves are quite salty so what’s the problem?
So....it's the mormons' fault...?
That “scientist” needs to get a job that does something. Trying to figure out what happened 250 million years ago is a fools errand. Especially in light of the old testament.
I was tempted to get that in but...you know...I'm just not a troublemaker. ;-)
I like the ideas of this hypothesis, especially considering all of the salt deposits in the Permian. Another theory for Geologists to go have fun with.
I know what you mean—I got busted last week for making a glancing reference to the mormons. Let’s see what happens today...
The dinosaurs took TARP money. That’s what did them in.
This is badly written. It leaves the impression that the new theory has replaced the old theories.
You're on to something. See post #10.
Humanity could do it too. Just detonate most of our nuclear stockpile and see what happens.
Seems to be a touchy subject lately.
How about a global flood? Hmm?
Actually the sea is the source of one of the theories of the mass extinction of 65 million years ago. There is a lot of methane locked up in the ocean floors and the theory is that something caused a mass release.
Personally I don’t buy it but I also don’t buy the asteroid impact as a reason for the extinction either. (at least not by itself)
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