250 million years ago, an extinction event wiped out 90% of life on Earth. But it wasn't an asteroid or tsunami that caused this devastation. Discover how mega El Niño events and volcanic eruptions nearly ended life as we know it, shaping the planet's future forever. Could it happen again? Watch to find out!
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Location: London
WooGlobe Ref : WGA861705
For licensing and to use this video, please email licensing@wooglobe.com
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00:00Did you know that 250 million years ago, over 90% of life on Earth was wiped out?
00:05And no, it wasn't an asteroid or tsunami.
00:08It all began in the ocean.
00:09This event, known as the Great Dying, was deadlier than the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.
00:15Researchers believe it was caused by extreme volcanic activity in what we now call the Siberian Traps.
00:21But that's not the full story.
00:22Recent research suggests that intense, prolonged El Niño events played a crucial role in this extinction.
00:29These mega El Niños caused wild weather swings, extreme droughts followed by flooding,
00:33making it impossible for life to adapt.
00:36Imagine this.
00:37As temperatures soared, forests died, releasing more carbon dioxide.
00:41This created a feedback loop, making the planet even hotter.
00:45Meanwhile, marine creatures tried to survive by migrating, but it wasn't enough.
00:49El Niños grew stronger, lasting decades.
00:52The ocean spoiled, and on land, almost everything died.
00:55Life as we know it barely survived.
00:58Yet this catastrophe paved the way for dinosaurs and, much later,
01:01it's mind-blowing to think that without this event, humans might never have existed.
01:06The Great Dying nearly ended life on Earth, but it also shaped the world we live in today.
01:11Crazy, right?
01:12Want to know more about how Earth's past shaped its future?
01:15Stay updated on more fascinating stories from history.