When The Atlantic Ripped Open A Supercontinent

Summary

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a chain of underwater volcanoes, marks the longest mountain range on Earth and played a pivotal role in the creation of the Atlantic Ocean. Originating from volcanic eruptions that split the supercontinent Pangea, these eruptions not only led to the formation of the ocean but also caused a global mass extinction event known as the End-Triassic Mass Extinction. The eruptions, particularly the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP), spanned over 600,000 years and drastically altered Earth's climate, leading to acid rain, volcanic winters, and a significant rise in global temperatures. This event set the stage for the rise of dinosaurs, who benefited from the extinction of their competitors. The script also discusses the ongoing widening of the Atlantic and the eventual geological cycle预示着 the ocean's closure and the formation of a new supercontinent.

Takeaways

• 🌋 The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a chain of volcanoes under the Atlantic Ocean and part of the world's longest mountain range.
• 🧩 The Atlantic Ocean was formed by the splitting of the supercontinent Pangea around 200 million years ago.
• 🔥 The Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) eruption was one of the largest volcanic events ever, covering an area the size of Canada with lava.
• 💀 This massive volcanic activity led to the End-Triassic Mass Extinction, which wiped out many species and reshaped life on Earth.
• 🌍 The eruption released sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, which caused acid rain, volcanic winters, and global warming, devastating the environment.
• 🌡️ Rising temperatures triggered wildfires, thawed methane clathrates, and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, further intensifying global warming.
• 🐉 While many species went extinct, dinosaurs thrived, using protofeathers to survive volcanic winters, setting the stage for their domination.
• 🦴 Evidence linking the CAMP eruption to the mass extinction was confirmed in 2013 through precise uranium-lead dating of zircon crystals.
• 🌊 The Atlantic Ocean continues to grow due to seafloor spreading at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, but it may eventually close as part of the Wilson Cycle.
• ⏳ The oceanic plate near Spain and Portugal may be starting to subduct, which could mark the beginning of the Atlantic's closure millions of years from now.

Q & A

What is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and why is it significant?

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a chain of volcanoes stretching almost the entire north-south length of the globe, forming part of the longest mountain range on Earth. It is significant because it is where new seafloor is created, contributing to the expansion of the Atlantic Ocean.

What event led to the formation of the Atlantic Ocean?

The formation of the Atlantic Ocean began with the breaking apart of the supercontinent Pangea, driven by volcanic eruptions from the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP), around 201 million years ago.

What was Pangea, and how long did it exist?

Pangea was a supercontinent formed about 320 million years ago when most land masses merged. It existed for nearly 150 million years before breaking apart.

How did the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) contribute to a mass extinction?

CAMP's massive volcanic eruptions released sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and other gases, which caused acid rain, volcanic winter, global warming, and ocean acidification. These changes led to the end-Triassic mass extinction, affecting marine and terrestrial life.

What is basalt, and how does it relate to the CAMP eruptions?

Basalt is a fine-grained, dark volcanic rock formed from cooled lava. The CAMP eruptions produced large amounts of basalt, which can be found along the edges of the Atlantic today, evidence of the volcanic activity that helped split Pangea.

How did scientists link the CAMP eruptions to the end-Triassic mass extinction?

In 2013, scientists precisely dated the CAMP rocks using zircon crystals, revealing that the end-Triassic extinction occurred just 100,000 years after the CAMP eruptions began, suggesting a strong connection between the two events.

What impact did the CAMP eruptions have on Earth’s atmosphere and climate?

The CAMP eruptions released sulfur dioxide, causing acid rain and a volcanic winter. Later, the release of carbon dioxide triggered global warming, while methane from thawed clathrates may have accelerated the warming, leading to widespread wildfires and ocean acidification.

How did the end-Triassic extinction affect life in the oceans and on land?

In the oceans, the extinction wiped out nearly half of marine genera, including many coral species and ammonites. On land, it led to the extinction of many reptiles and amphibians, though dinosaurs fared well and went on to dominate in the Jurassic period.

What evidence suggests that the Atlantic Ocean is still expanding today?

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge continues to create new seafloor, causing the Atlantic Ocean to widen by a few centimeters each year, a process that has been ongoing since Pangea split apart.

What is the Wilson Cycle, and how does it relate to the future of the Atlantic Ocean?

The Wilson Cycle describes the lifecycle of oceans, including their opening and closing. While the Atlantic is currently in its seafloor spreading stage, some scientists believe subduction off the coast of Spain and Portugal may eventually lead to its closure, potentially forming a new supercontinent in hundreds of millions of years.