Salty Dogs indeed.
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 ...
Let them burn.
If most need to go, so be it.
His promises aren’t binding on humanity.
Oh, but they are. Just because you don’t believe it, doesn’t make it so.
I didn't know Bush was Mormon.
If humanity destroys itself it would not be God doing it.
Humanity will not destroy itself. He will step in before that happens.
He may allow MOST of us to destroy ourselves, but not all. He will step in.
See post #28.
I never said that humanity would be the one destroyed.
My last post should have read “I never said humanity would be totally destroyed in the aftermath of a nuclear war - but a great many others species would be wiped out”
Sorry, I mistook this post.
This is the way science works today. Because they think that it might be happening now, let's provide proof by speculating that the same thing happened 250 mya. All with no evidence.
That is a great painting. But as usual, silent and steady Cal is forgotten. :-(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTHqYm4FZU4&feature=related
Dixie Chicks ~ You can’t Hurry Love
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Actually, I think you may be referring to methane and an extinction 55 million years ago.
So far as the Permian Extinction, I am still inclined to think asteroid, but the huge Siberian volcanic trappe formations certainly must have been involved as well. Just as there is a concurrent Yucatan asteroid and the Deccan Trappes in India. Of course, the salt lakes may have had an influence, but not necessarily the biggest one. What was the relative size of the Salt Sea and the Siberian Trappes? Stay tuned for additional information. This is why I love science.
This is the first time I have heard of this...
Cheers!
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