Volcanic eruptions may have paved the way for the rise of dinosaurs, study finds

A new study suggests that volcanic eruptions during the end-Triassic period caused a rapid drop in global temperatures, leading to a major extinction event. This event cleared the way for the rise of dinosaurs. Previous research linked the end-Triassic extinction to long-lasting eruptions that released greenhouse gases. However, the new findings indicate that eruptions were shorter and more intense, occurring in five distinct pulses over about 40,000 years. These brief eruptions released sulfate particles that reflected sunlight, causing a quick cooling effect. This cooling likely contributed to the extinction of three-quarters of life on Earth, allowing dinosaurs to thrive afterward.