Mass Extinction Confirmed – Volcanic Winters Paved the Way for the Rise of Dinosaurs

More than 200 million years ago, Earth went through one of the most dramatic events in its history—a series of massive volcanic eruptions that changed the climate, wiped out species, and accidentally gave dinosaurs the chance to rule the world. A new study sheds light on how these eruptions triggered a “volcanic winter” that led to one of the biggest extinctions ever recorded. Let’s cut into the details.

Extinction

This global disaster happened at the end of the Triassic period, around 201 million years ago. Over 70% of life on land vanished. With so many species gone, dinosaurs were suddenly free to grow in numbers, spread across the planet, and eventually dominate in the Jurassic era that followed.

For years, scientists suspected that a massive volcanic region was to blame: the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province, or CAMP. This giant area of ancient lava formed when all the continents were still connected in one supercontinent called Pangaea.

Discovery

In this new study, scientists studied ancient volcanic rocks from Morocco and Canada. These rocks hold clues from Earth’s magnetic field, frozen in time. By analyzing them, researchers found evidence of five major eruptions, all happening within a span of just 50,000 years—a blink of an eye in geologic time.

Each of these eruptions lasted less than 100 years but released massive amounts of sulfur dioxide gas into the sky. This gas reflected sunlight away from Earth, leading to a fast and deadly global cooling event known as a volcanic winter.

Danger

When sunlight can’t reach the ground, plants can’t perform photosynthesis. That means they can’t grow or feed the animals that rely on them. When plants die, herbivores die, and carnivores follow. This is how the food chain collapses.

One of the volcanic pulses released an estimated 63,000 megatons of sulfur dioxide—about 500 times more than Iceland’s devastating eruption in 1783. The cold periods from each eruption came so quickly one after another that ecosystems didn’t have a chance to recover.

Oceans

While land was freezing, the oceans faced a different kind of crisis. Carbon dioxide from the volcanoes warmed the seas, made the water more acidic, and reduced oxygen levels. This combination was deadly for marine life, leading to the extinction of many ocean species—but through different causes than those on land.

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs already existed before the disaster—but they weren’t the dominant creatures. Once other reptiles and animals disappeared during the volcanic winters, dinosaurs moved in and thrived.

Why did they survive when others didn’t? Scientists believe that small, feathered dinosaurs were better suited to the cooler, changing climate. Their bodies could adapt, while larger, cold-blooded reptiles likely couldn’t handle the harsh new environment.

That gave dinosaurs a huge evolutionary advantage, allowing them to rise to the top and rule the Earth for over 130 million years.

Lessons

This study shows how fast the planet’s climate can change—and how deeply that change affects life. These eruptions lasted less than a century each, yet they reshaped all of Earth’s ecosystems.

It also shows that mass extinctions, as tragic as they are, can create space for new life to grow and evolve. Without this ancient disaster, dinosaurs might never have had their moment.

Finally, this research used tools like magnetic records, soil layers, and ocean sediments to unlock secrets from over 200 million years ago. It’s a reminder of how deeply connected climate, geology, and life really are—even today.

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