About 252 million years ago, Earth experienced the most severe mass extinction in its history. An estimated 81% to 94% of marine animal species disappeared, while ecosystems on land also suffered a profound collapse.
The leading explanation points to the Siberian Traps, a vast region of volcanic activity formed through repeated pulses of magma. But the key question is not simply how much rock was produced. Scientists have also had to determine which phase of the volcanic activity coincided with the environmental crisis.
