The ultimate driver of the end-Permian mass extinction is a topic of much debate. Here, we used a multiproxy and paleoclimate modeling approach to establish a unifying theory elucidating the heightened susceptibility of the Pangean world to the prolonged and intensified El Niño events leading to an extinction state. As atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide doubled from about 410 to about 860 ppm (parts per million) in the latest Permian, the meridional overturning circulation collapsed, the Hadley cell contracted, and El Niños intensified. The resultant deforestation, reef demise, and plankton crisis marked the start of a cascading environmental disaster. Reduced carbon sequestration initiated positive feedback, producing a warmer hothouse and, consequently, stronger El Niños. The compounding effects of elevated climate variability and mean state warming led to catastrophic but diachronous terrestrial and marine losses.

中文翻译：

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巨型厄尔尼诺现象引发了二叠纪末的大规模灭绝


二叠纪末大灭绝的最终驱动因素是一个争论不休的话题。在这里，我们使用多代理和古气候建模方法来建立一个统一的理论，阐明了盘古世界对导致灭绝状态的长期和强化厄尔尼诺事件的高度敏感性。在最新的二叠纪中，随着大气中二氧化碳分压从大约 410 倍增加到大约 860 ppm（百万分之一），经向翻转环流崩溃，哈德莱环流收缩，厄尔尼诺现象加剧。由此产生的森林砍伐、珊瑚礁灭绝和浮游生物危机标志着一场级联环境灾难的开始。碳封存的减少引发了正反馈，产生了更温暖的温室，从而产生了更强的厄尔尼诺现象。气候变率升高和平均状态变暖的复合效应导致了灾难性但历时性的陆地和海洋损失。