Jakarta –
Planet Earth still full of mystery. The more we delve into its formation and composition, the more fascinated and surprised we become. One of the surprising episodes in Earth’s history was the Carnian Pluvial period, during which it is believed that our planet received continuous rain for millions of years.
Rain that falls non-stop for years always intrigues researchers. That period helped foster life on the so-called Blue Planet, and now scientists think they know why and how.
Non Stop Rain
During the Pangea period, which was around 200-300 million years ago, Earth was a large super continent consisting of all the land in the world. Our planet was a very different place at that time.
Scientists believe, at that time, there was a period when rain fell for about one to two million years. In the 1970s and 80s, geologists discovered unusual layers preserved in some ancient rocks dating back about 232 million years.
One research team in the eastern Alps studied layers of siliclastic sedimentation preserved in carbonate formations, while another team in England analyzed layers of gray rock embedded in the region’s famous red rocks.
These two findings, together with other research from various parts of the world, show a similar conclusion, namely that there was a period when the Earth experienced a fairly long dry season, then it started to rain.
Geologists can conclude that at the beginning of the age of dinosaurs, there was an unusually wet period. This period became known as the Carnian Pluvial event, or Carnian Pluvial episode.
This interesting event in Earth’s geological history calls for a better understanding of why it took so long to start raining.
Terrible eruption
Scientists now believe that the increase in humidity was caused by a significant spike in humidity levels, possibly triggered by a large volcanic eruption in the Wrangellia Great Igneous Province. Therefore, it rains for millions of years.
This event most likely caused an increase in global temperatures, which in turn caused warming of the oceans and an increase in the amount of water in the atmosphere.
A study published in the Journal of the Geological Society suggests that wet periods were beneficial for dinosaurs.
As quoted from WIO Newsthis period of increased humidity allowed them to diversify, following a tumultuous era marked by frequent volcanic eruptions.
“After the extinction of major land plants and herbivores, dinosaurs appeared to be the main beneficiaries of this period of recovery,” the researchers wrote.
“This is perhaps one of the most important events in the history of life in terms of its role in enabling not only the ‘age of the dinosaurs’ but also the origin of most of the key groups that make up the modern fauna of terrestrial tetrapods, namely turtles, crocodiles, lizards and mammals,” said the researchers.
Watch the Video “Dozens of Houses in Majalengka Submerged in Floods, Water Height Reaches 1 Meter”
(rns/agt)
2024-03-09 17:05:45
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