Antarctic fossils contain clue of global warming before dinosaur's extinction

In a new study, researchers have collected evidence from Antarctic seashells that have revealed earth was stressed and unstable even before asteroid impact that led to wiping out of disaurs on planet. study, led by researchers at rthwestern University in US, proceeded with measurement of calcium isotope composition of fossilised snail and clamshells. shells reportedly dated back to Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event, which wiped out disaurs from face of Earth. study will be published in journal of 'Geology' later this month.

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Carbon emission from volcanic activities

According to findings of researchers, chemistry of shells changed in response to surge of carbon present in oceans. Long-term eruptions from Deccan Traps – a 200,000-square-mile volcanic province located in modern India – h led to carbon influx. During years leing up to asteroid impact, Deccan Traps spewed massive amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into atmosphere. concentration of CO2 acidified oceans, directly affecting organisms living re. This acidification is currently what's happening right w as mankind releases large quantities of same gases in atmosphere by burning fossil fuels.

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"Our data suggest that environment was changing before asteroid impact. Those changes appear to correlate with eruption of Deccan Traps," said author of study Benjamin Linzmeier. " Earth was clearly under stress before major mass extinction event," said Andrew Jacobson, a senior author of paper. " asteroid impact coincides with pre-existing carbon cycle instability. But that doesn't mean we have answers to what actually caused extinction."

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Possible correlation with current events

researchers said that understanding how Earth responded to past extreme warming and CO2 input can help m prepare for how planet will respond to current, human-caused climate change. Jacobson said that y think  ancient ocean acidification events are good analogues for what's happening w with anthropogenic CO2 emissions. "Perhaps we can use this work as a tool to better predict what might happen in future. We can't igre rock record. Earth system is sensitive to large and rapid ditions of CO2. Current emissions will have environmental consequences."

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(With ncy inputs)