Immediately after the Permian extinction event, the carbon dioxide and methane released by volcanism caused the Earth to
A) initiate a snowball Earth phase
B) start an ice age
C) begin a period of intense global warming
D) completely change the composition of its atmosphere

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The release of carbon dioxide and methane by volcanism after the Permian extinction caused a greenhouse effect that led to a period of intense global warming. This warming was so significant that it contributed to the extinction of further species. Therefore, option C is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect because a snowball Earth phase involves the entire Earth covered in ice, which is not what happened after the Permian extinction. Option B is incorrect because an ice age involves global cooling, which is not what happened after the Permian extinction. Option D is incorrect because the composition of the atmosphere did not completely change after the Permian extinction; it was the increase in greenhouse gases that caused the warming.

Immediately After the Permian Extinction Event, the Carbon Dioxide and Methane