Timing of Permo-Triassic Mass Extinctions: Global Correlation by High-Resolution Astronomical Tuning

摘要

The Permian-Triassic (P-T) mass extinction resulted in the greatest dying of earth life ever recorded, with the loss of more than 90% of all marine species (Erwin, 2006). The cause of this crisis remains enigmatic despite continued, intensive scientific study of the event. Multiple scenarios have been proposed as causes for the P-T extinction, and there is evidence that four major triggers are the most likely candidates responsible for the crisis: bolide impact, flood basalt eruption of the Siberian traps, oceanic anoxia, and catastrophic release of seafloor methane (Knoll et al., 2007). Any reasonable model that interprets the P/T biotic crisis needs to be tested by first understanding the precise biotic extinction pattern and duration. Most current scenarios explain the P-T catastrophic event by assuming that the biotic extinction was an abrupt, mono-episodic event, as documented by Jin et al. (2000) from the Meishan Section, South China.