EXTINCTIONS

The white line depicts earth extinction events from 540 million years ago to the present day. The first of the five main events occurred 445 million years ago when some 85% of species were destroyed by volcanic activity that led to global warming. This was followed by another some 372 million years ago  which killed of 70% of species. The Great Dying occurred 252 million yeas ago when 81% of marine and 70% of terrestrial life forms were destroyed by sustained volcanic activity. 50 million years later another set of irruptions killed 70% of all species. The asteroid impact that caused a 10 year long nuclear winter 66 million years ago saw the end of the dinosaurs  along with 75% of marine and terrestrial species.