Scientists have called for current environmental policies and practices to be reconsidered to avoid the catastrophic consequences of global warming and to find a sustainable way forward – one where nature’s delicate balance is respected.
Researchers from ETH Zurich, along with other teams from CNRS Toulouse, the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Snow and Landscape Research, the University of Leeds and the University of Arizona, have revealed that the large volcanic eruptions of the past, which dramatically changed the climate of the planet, hold valuable information that could help to understand current global warming patterns. The study provides significant insights into the Earth’s carbon-climate regulation balance and highlights the vital role of vegetation in this.
The teams examined evidence from major climatic shifts caused by massive volcanic eruptions. Among these events was the Siberian Traps, a disaster that happened 252 million years ago and led to the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, the most significant extinction event ever recorded on the Earth. Ben Mills, a professor who participated in the studies, said:
“The events in our study took place millions of years ago and played out over hundreds of thousands of years. But they tell a cautionary tale for the present day. Temperature-driven collapse of the world’s tropical forests has happened before and can happen again. Our work confirms that the Earth can respond to climate change in ways that are very dangerous for animal life. Ancient periods of climate change lasted well beyond the cessation of carbon emissions, and it is possible that the climate can permanently transition to a warmer state.”
The Siberian Traps eruption alone released 40,000 gigatons of carbon for 200,000 years, causing a significant surge in atmospheric carbon. As a result, global temperatures increased by approximately 5 to 10°C. Julian Rogger, another author of the study, explains that this catastrophic event pushed the planet into a period of climate instability, severely weakening the carbon-climate regulation system after which it took millions of years for vegetation to recover.
The scientists highlighted in their report how critical it is for carbon that is released into the atmosphere to be reabsorbed back into the earth. This happens through natural processes such as the weathering of silicate minerals which play a major role in controlling the climate. But it is not simply about minerals. The study also highlights the importance of plants in balancing the climate.
According to the study, plants not only soak up carbon dioxide, they also help to regulate the climate through their ability to adapt or move to new areas as temperatures rise.
However, history reveals that when plants struggle to keep up with rapid climate changes, the entire system suffers. If vegetation is unable to adapt quickly enough, this can lead to prolonged periods of climate instability, lasting for thousands of years. Loïc Pellissier, another of the researchers, points out:
“Our study demonstrates the role of a functioning of vegetation to recover from abrupt climatic changes. We are currently releasing greenhouse gases at a faster rate than any previous volcanic event.”
