JOURNAL ARTICLE

Traces of ancient seafloor cataclysms turn up in the Himalayas: Vast undersea eruptions may be undercounted source of extinctions through Earth's history.

  • Published In: Sciencemag.org, 2026. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Applied Science & Technology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Dinneen, James 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses the discovery of ancient volcanic eruptions on the Tibetan Plateau that may explain previously unaccounted marine extinctions over the past 200 million years. Geologists identified remnants of two significant supereruptions, occurring approximately 232 million and 210 million years ago, linked to the closure of the Tethys ocean. These eruptions, characterized by massive magma outpourings, likely contributed to low-oxygen conditions in the oceans and triggered extensive marine life die-offs. The researchers suggest that similar undersea supereruptions could account for up to 160 extinction events throughout Earth's history, highlighting the need for further investigation into their impacts. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sciencemag.org. 2026/01, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2026
  • Accession Number:191263863
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