Earth's Most Devastating Volcanoes Could Trigger the End of Civilization
Indian Defence Review • • science
Key Points:
- Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) are vast geological regions formed by prolonged, repeated volcanic eruptions that release enormous volumes of lava, sometimes up to 10,000 cubic kilometers in a single event, profoundly reshaping landscapes and ecosystems.
- Unlike single explosive eruptions, LIPs erupt continuously over thousands to millions of years, causing cumulative environmental damage that disrupts ecosystems and can trigger mass extinctions, as seen with the Siberian Traps about 250 million years ago.
- The atmospheric impact of LIPs includes massive emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, which have historically led to rapid climate changes, ocean acidification, and severe disruptions to both terrestrial and marine life.
- Notable LIPs such as
