Summary:
- The article discusses the potential link between extreme El Niño events and mass extinctions in Earth's history. El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, which can have far-reaching impacts on global weather patterns.
- Scientists have found evidence that periods of frequent and intense El Niño events in the past, known as "mega-El Niños," may have contributed to several major mass extinction events, including the Permian-Triassic extinction 252 million years ago and the Triassic-Jurassic extinction 201 million years ago.
- The article suggests that as climate change continues to intensify, the frequency and intensity of El Niño events could increase, potentially leading to more extreme weather patterns and environmental stresses that could threaten modern ecosystems and species.