Wildfires rampaged across Europe during the final days of the Triassic period approximately 201 million years ago [1, 2].

These findings provide a critical window into how extreme atmospheric changes can trigger widespread ecological collapse. By examining the end-Triassic mass extinction, researchers can better understand the relationship between carbon emissions and catastrophic fire cycles.

The fires occurred during a period of intense geological instability. Volcanism linked to the break-up of the supercontinent Pangea pumped vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere [2]. This surge in greenhouse gases led to extreme global warming, with temperatures rising between five and 10 degrees Celsius [1, 2].

According to a report from MSN, the end-Triassic mass extinction is linked to this volcanism and the resulting atmospheric shifts [2]. The combination of heat and altered precipitation patterns created a landscape prone to ignition. These fires did not occur as isolated events but raged across the European continent for millennia [2].

The scale of the devastation was tied directly to the volume of CO2 released during the continental split. The resulting warming of five to 10 degrees Celsius [1, 2] pushed ecosystems past a breaking point, transforming vast regions into fuel for the infernos.

Scientists said the persistence of these fires highlights the long-term impact of rapid warming on terrestrial biomes. The evidence suggests that once a certain thermal threshold is crossed, the frequency and intensity of wildfires can shift permanently for thousands of years [2].

“Wildfires rampaged across Europe in the dying days of the Triassic”

This research establishes a historical precedent for the link between high atmospheric carbon dioxide and systemic wildfire escalation. By demonstrating that volcanic CO2 emissions 201 million years ago triggered millennia of fires, the study provides a geological analog for how current rapid warming may permanently alter the fire regimes of modern ecosystems.