Daniel Rothman studies the behavior of the Earth's carbon cycle, focusing on periods of extreme disruption, known as mass extinctions. Research indicates that many mass extinctions were caused by continent-spanning volcanic eruptions releasing excessive CO2 into the air and oceans. Such rapid influx of carbon can destabilize the carbon cycle, leading to positive feedback mechanisms that release even more carbon. The critical factor is the rate of change in CO2 levels, which can trigger severe ecological and geological responses, affecting the planet for hundreds of thousands of years.
Mass extinctions are historic events primarily caused by volcanic eruptions that released catastrophic amounts of CO2, disrupting the planet's carbon cycle.
The rate of change in CO2 concentration, rather than its absolute levels, can trigger extreme disruptions in the carbon cycle, leading to planetary failure.
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