Global News - October 2007

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Global warming 'could trigger mass extinction event'

Wed 24 October 2007 15:45 UK — Other

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The rises in global temperature predicted in the coming centuries could trigger a new 'mass extinction event' which would see 50 per cent of the planet's animal and plant species wiped out, new research has warned.

Scientists from the universities of York and Leeds have found that there is a close association between Earth climate and extinctions.

To reach this conclusion, the team examined the relationship between temperature and extinction over the past 520 million years.

"Our results provide the first clear evidence that global climate may explain substantial variation in the fossil record in a simple and consistent manner," explained Dr Peter Mayhew.

By matching data about marine and terrestrial diversity against temperature estimates, the team found that global biodiversity is relatively low during warm 'greenhouse' phases and recovers during colder periods of the Earth's history.

Worryingly, the team added that the temperature changes predicted in the coming years are similar to those experienced during the warmest greenhouse phases. It was during these periods that previous mass extinction events have occurred.

During the warmest ever period of the Earth's history the end-Permian event occurred - which saw the extinction of 95 per cent of all animal and plant species.

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