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Early Triassic super-greenhouse climate driven by vegetation collapse

Author

Listed:
  • Zhen Xu

    (China University of Geosciences
    University of Leeds)

  • Jianxin Yu

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Hongfu Yin

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Andrew S. Merdith

    (University of Adelaide)

  • Jason Hilton

    (Edgbaston)

  • Bethany J. Allen

    (ETH Zürich
    Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics)

  • Khushboo Gurung

    (University of Leeds)

  • Paul B. Wignall

    (University of Leeds)

  • Alexander M. Dunhill

    (University of Leeds)

  • Jun Shen

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • David Schwartzman

    (Howard University)

  • Yves Goddéris

    (CNRS-Université de Toulouse III)

  • Yannick Donnadieu

    (Coll France)

  • Yuxuan Wang

    (China University of Geosciences
    University of Leeds)

  • Yinggang Zhang

    (University of Leeds)

  • Simon W. Poulton

    (University of Leeds
    China University of Geosciences)

  • Benjamin J. W. Mills

    (University of Leeds)

Abstract

The Permian–Triassic Mass Extinction (PTME), the most severe crisis of the Phanerozoic, has been attributed to intense global warming triggered by Siberian Traps volcanism. However, it remains unclear why super-greenhouse conditions persisted for around five million years after the volcanic episode, with one possibility being that the slow recovery of plants limited carbon sequestration. Here we use fossil occurrences and lithological indicators of climate to reconstruct spatio-temporal maps of plant productivity changes through the PTME and employ climate-biogeochemical modelling to investigate the Early Triassic super-greenhouse. Our reconstructions show that terrestrial vegetation loss during the PTME, especially in tropical regions, resulted in an Earth system with low levels of organic carbon sequestration and restricted chemical weathering, resulting in prolonged high CO2 levels. These results support the idea that thresholds exist in the climate-carbon system whereby warming can be amplified by vegetation collapse.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhen Xu & Jianxin Yu & Hongfu Yin & Andrew S. Merdith & Jason Hilton & Bethany J. Allen & Khushboo Gurung & Paul B. Wignall & Alexander M. Dunhill & Jun Shen & David Schwartzman & Yves Goddéris & Yann, 2025. "Early Triassic super-greenhouse climate driven by vegetation collapse," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60396-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60396-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. S. D. Burgess & J. D. Muirhead & S. A. Bowring, 2017. "Initial pulse of Siberian Traps sills as the trigger of the end-Permian mass extinction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Alexander M. Dunhill & Bjarte Hannisdal & Michael J. Benton, 2014. "Disentangling rock record bias and common-cause from redundancy in the British fossil record," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Jun Shen & Jiubin Chen & Jianxin Yu & Thomas J. Algeo & Roger M. H. Smith & Jennifer Botha & Tracy D. Frank & Christopher R. Fielding & Peter D. Ward & Tamsin A. Mather, 2023. "Mercury evidence from southern Pangea terrestrial sections for end-Permian global volcanic effects," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Terry T. Isson & Shuang Zhang & Kimberly V. Lau & Sofia Rauzi & Nicholas J. Tosca & Donald E. Penman & Noah J. Planavsky, 2022. "Marine siliceous ecosystem decline led to sustained anomalous Early Triassic warmth," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Khushboo Gurung & Katie J. Field & Sarah A. Batterman & Simon W. Poulton & Benjamin J. W. Mills, 2024. "Geographic range of plants drives long-term climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.
    6. Khushboo Gurung & Katie J. Field & Sarah A. Batterman & Yves Goddéris & Yannick Donnadieu & Philipp Porada & Lyla L. Taylor & Benjamin J. W. Mills, 2022. "Climate windows of opportunity for plant expansion during the Phanerozoic," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
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