The reasons for the Great Dying are still debated, but some of the main theories include:
- Asteroid impact: An asteroid impact may have caused massive climate changes and environmental disruptions, leading to the extinction of many species.
- Volcanic eruptions: Volcanic eruptions in the Siberian Traps region may have released large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, causing global warming and acidification of the oceans.
- Methane release: The release of methane from the sea floor may have contributed to the greenhouse gas effect and further exacerbated global warming.
- Anoxic event: The extinction event may have been caused by a sudden decrease in oxygen levels in the oceans, which would have been devastating for marine life.
The combination of these factors is thought to have caused a global catastrophe that led to the Great Dying. This event marked the end of the Permian period and the beginning of the Triassic period.