Methane belches may have catastrophic consequences.

A massive methane explosion frothing out of the world's oceans 250 million years ago caused the Earth's worst mass extinction, claims a US geologist.

Similar, smaller-scale events could have happened since, which might explain the Biblical flood, for example, suggests Gregory Ryskin of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois1. And they could happen again: "It's a very conjectural idea but it's too important to ignore," says Ryskin.

Up to 95% of Earth's marine species disapeared at the end of the Permian period. Some 70% of land species, including plants, insects and vertebrates, also perished. "It's arguably the single most important event in biology but there's no consensus as to what happened," says palaeontologist Andrew Knoll of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massacheusetts.

Ryskin contends that methane from bacterial decay or from frozen methane hydrates in deep oceans began to be released. Under the enormous pressure from water above, the gas dissolved in the water at the bottom of the ocean and was trapped there as its concentration grew.

Full Article LINK

I was doing a lot of research earlier this year about the mass extictions, and although it has been confirmed that the extictions were caused by climate change, why or how the climate changed has not been confirmed.

The shifting of the tectonic plates does more than just move continents. It also releases poisonous gases and causes volcanic eruptions and climate changes.

I sent KC an email with a very detailed 'report' I made regarding the mass extictions, and these new theories that are brought up and new information that is released validates it.

Thanks for the article starlye


I had to edit this because I misused the word validates. My report has not been validated. But these new findings do back it up
Had to resort to using my dictionary

Great article starlyte, and Homer, you know how honored I was to
be allowed to read your amazing thoughts on the topic. I really
think you should post it in the editorial section, as I'm sure many members
here would be interested and enjoy it as well.