preview

The Cause Of The Triassic Jurassic Extinction Is High Levels Of Toxic Compounds Released From Volcanic Activity

Decent Essays

Toxic Compounds Another theory that some proposed as the cause of the Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction is high levels of toxic compounds released from volcanic activity. Directly around volcanic activity in the rift zone, there perhaps would have been high levels of Fluorine and Chlorine, both of which could have directly poisoned organisms. These large ejections of Chlorine and Fluorine could have led to ozone depletion and acid rain (McHone 2003). However, due to the fact that high levels of either of these compounds would have caused extinction without prejudice, the actual role that toxic compounds played during the Triassic-Jurassic extinction is hard to predict and study (Hautmann 2012). Sea-level Changes There is another theory proposed that posits that rapid sea level regression followed quickly by transgression caused the mass extinction, at least in the marine realm. According to Schoene and Geux (2010), δ18O values from fossil oysters suggest cool ocean temperatures immediately following the negative δ13C excursion followed by a period of warming. As shown in figure 2, during a time spanning approximately 300,000 years there was a positive carbon isotope anomaly (corresponding with a decrease in sea level along with cooling and glaciation) followed by a period of higher sea levels and a negative carbon isotope anomaly. These findings are consistent with rapid sea level regression-transgression lasting only approximately 290,000 years, which can only be explained

Get Access