A series of new surveys has captured evidence that mantle plumes—columns of hot rock rising from Earth's deep interior—pulse in intensity over time. The findings bolster a once-controversial theory that these pulses are a potential cause of ancient mass extinctions.
The research, published in Science Magazine, combines seismic imaging with data from deep-sea drilling cruises. Scientists have long debated whether volcanic activity from mantle plumes could trigger sudden, severe climate shifts. These latest surveys provide some of the clearest evidence yet of such a link.
The data show that mantle plumes do not rise at a constant rate but instead experience episodic surges. Each pulse can produce massive volcanic eruptions that release enormous volumes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, potentially driving rapid global warming.
If this pattern holds across multiple extinction events, it could reshape our understanding of Earth's geological and biological history. However, not all researchers are convinced. Some argue that other factors, such as asteroid impacts or tectonic shifts, remain equally plausible triggers for the most severe die-offs.
Additional research will be needed to determine how broadly the plume-pulsing mechanism applies to past events. The findings nevertheless open a promising new chapter in deciphering the planet's most catastrophic climate shifts.