Ocean in coastal areas becoming more acidic than previously thought

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. Greatest mass extinction driven by changes to oceans, study finds

https://news-archive.exeter.ac.uk/2015/april/title_445410_en.html

Changes to the Earth’s oceans, caused by extreme volcanic activity, triggered the greatest extinction of all time, a study suggests. The event, which took place 252 million years ago, wiped out more than 90 per cent of marine species and more than two-thirds of the animals living on land.

It happened when Earth’s oceans absorbed huge amounts of carbon dioxide from volcanic eruptions, researchers say.

This changed the chemical composition of the oceans – making them more acidic – with catastrophic consequences for life on Earth.

The study, which is published in the journal Science and included authors from the University of Exeter, is the first to show that highly acidic oceans were to blame.

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Date: 10 April 2015

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59038-0