Earth shifted among five 'mega-climate' states over 539 million years, with extinctions spiking near transitions
Earth's climate has undergone dramatic changes throughout its history, but new research suggests those changes may not have been as random as previously thought. A study led by an international team of researchers, including University of New Mexico paleobiologist Corinne "Cori" Myers, found that Earth's climate over the past 539 million years tended to remain within a small number of recurring…
For the past 539 million years, Earth's climate has cycled through five major climate states, each marked by relatively stable conditions that gradually gave way to the next. These transitions, which researchers have dubbed "Haggis bins" after their Scottish origins, were often associated with a spike in extinctions. The study, led by paleobiologist Corinne Myers of the University of New Mexico, analyzed climate data and extinction rates across vast stretches of geological time.
The findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest that Earth's climate behaved more systematically than previously thought, settling into recognizable patterns before undergoing transitions that triggered periods of increased extinction. The researchers identified these transitions as periods of heightened vulnerability for Earth's biosphere, with extinction rates peaking during the five major mass extinctions in the planet's history.
Myers emphasized that understanding these climate regime shifts could shed light on why ecosystems become more susceptible to extinction during such transitions. While the study does not predict future extinctions, it provides a new framework for considering how climate changes can impact biodiversity, particularly in regions like New Mexico where water availability is crucial as conditions evolve.
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