Mega El Niño May Have Led to Major Mass Extinction 252 Million Years Ago

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By Rebecca Owen, Eos/AGU. 

Excerpt: Every few years, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a seasonal climate phenomenon, disrupts global weather for periods of 9–12 months at a time. During an ENSO event, trade winds die down, allowing warmer water to circulate through the Pacific Ocean and creating unpredictable, extreme weather patterns around the world. While some locations experience heavy rainfall, others experience extreme drought and heat waves. ...About 252 million years ago, however, El Niño–like conditions may have persisted for decades at a time, a new study suggests. The volatile climate and extended ocean warming associated with this climate pattern may be pieces of the puzzle of what caused the largest mass extinction in Earth’s history, the Permian-Triassic extinction event, also known as the “Great Dying.” During this period, it would have been impossible for plants and animals to endure decades-long swings in climate conditions. Most life on land and sea was wiped out within tens of thousands of years.... 

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