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Mega El Niños kicked off the world’s worst mass extinction

Most species died off during the Great Dying 252 million years ago

This illustration shows a time period about 252 million years ago when volcanic eruptions sparked a volatile period of extreme temperaturs and weather that ended up killing most of Earth's species. Here, volcanoes erupt in the background, while trees appear dead and skeletons of land and ocean animals litter the ground. Everything has an orange tinge.

The vast majority of Earth’s species died out at the end of the Permian Period, as illustrated here. The largest mass extinction yet has its roots in El Niños that grew increasingly stronger as an outpouring of greenhouse gases warmed the global climate.

Lynette Cook/Science Source

By Jake Buehler

A barrage of intense, wild swings in climate conditions may have fueled the largest mass extinction in Earth’s history.