https://sputniknews.com/20220731/new-study-estimates-timeline-scale-for-earths-sixth-mass-extinction-event–1097967309.html
New study estimates timing and scale of Earth’s sixth mass extinction event
New study estimates timing and scale of Earth’s sixth mass extinction event
Scientists agree that right now our planet is experiencing the sixth mass extinction of biological species in the history of life on Earth, called the… 31.07.2022, Sputnik International
2022-07-31T00:33+0000
2022-07-31T00:33+0000
2022-07-31T00:33+0000
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New research with calculations by climatologist Kunio Kaiho of Tohoku University in Japan has estimated that the current mass extinction event is not expected to be as devastating as the previous five. Recently published in the journal Biosciences, the study determined that the magnitude of the current extinction event is not expected to increase for several centuries. When Kaiho attempted to quantify the relationship between the stability of the Earth’s average surface temperature and its biodiversity, he discovered an essentially linear relationship, according to the article. The extent of extinction increases with changing temperature. The greatest mass extinctions during episodes of global cooling have occurred when temperatures have dropped by around 7 degrees Celsius. However, the scientist estimated that in times of global warming, the greatest mass extinctions occur at around 9 degrees Celsius of warming. The figure would be significantly higher than previous predictions, which indicated that a temperature increase of 5.2 degrees Celsius would cause a significant marine mass extinction on par with the previous “big five”. Over the history of life, the Earth has lost the majority of its species. many times over the past 540 million years in relatively short geological periods. These are called major extinction events, and they frequently occur right after a change in climate occurs, whether as a result of extremely high or extremely low temperatures caused by asteroids or volcanic activity, respectively. In Perspective , contemporary global warming is expected to increase surface temperatures by up to 4.4 degrees Celsius by the end of this century, according to the UN. Due to climate change, many species are already disappearing on land and in the sea, although the researcher does not expect the same number of losses as in the past. Species are threatened for many reasons other than the sheer severity of climate change, with the study noting that the speed at which it occurs is crucial. millions of years ago and lasted over 60,000 years, was likely caused by high temperatures due to volcanic activity and led to the disappearance of more than two-thirds of all known species at the time . However, due to human emissions of fossil fuels, the current warming is occurring over a considerably shorter period of time. Instead of the amount of warming being so high, it’s possible that more species will die out in Earth’s sixth extinction because many of them couldn’t adapt. However, when it comes to predictions about the timescale and extent of the mass extinction, disagreement persists in scientific circles over the precise percentage of losses and the timing of those losses.
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Scientists agree that right now our planet is experiencing the sixth mass extinction of biological species in the history of life on Earth, called the Holocene extinction. While it’s impossible to predict its exact timing, officials noted that human impact has dramatically accelerated what usually takes tens of thousands of years.
New research with calculations by climatologist Kunio Kaiho of Tohoku University in Japan has estimated that the current mass extinction event is not expected to be as devastating as the previous five.
When Kaiho attempted to quantify the relationship between the stability of the Earth’s average surface temperature and its biodiversity, he discovered an essentially linear relationship, according to the article. The extent of extinction increases with changing temperature.
The greatest mass extinctions during episodes of global cooling have occurred when temperatures have dropped by around 7 degrees Celsius. However, the scientist estimated that in times of global warming, the greatest mass extinctions occur at around 9 degrees Celsius of warming.
Over the history of life, the Earth has lost the majority of its species many times over the past 540 million years over relatively short geologic periods. These are called major extinction events, and they frequently occur right after a climate change, whether it results from extremely high or extremely low temperatures caused by asteroids or volcanic activity, respectively.
However, due to human emissions of fossil fuels, the current warming is occurring over a considerably shorter period of time. Instead of the amount of warming being so high, it is possible that more species will become extinct during Earth’s sixth extinction event, as many of them have been unable to adapt.
“I can predict that the future magnitude of anthropogenic extinction will not reach the major magnitude of mass extinction when the future magnitude of anthropogenic extinction changes in parallel with the global surface temperature anomaly,” said noted the researcher.
However, when it comes to predictions about the timescale and extent of the mass extinction, disagreement persists in scientific circles about the precise percentage of losses and the timing of those losses.
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