A new study from Florida State University shows that natural sulfur and carbon released from metamorphic rocks can drive climate swings similar to volcanic eruptions. The research combines geochemistry and atmospheric science to explain how these emissions contributed to ancient mass extinctions like the end of the Permian and Triassic periods. Sulfur from heated rocks forms reflective particles in the atmosphere that cause short-term cooling, while carbon lingers for centuries and causes long-term warming. The study suggests that these processes, not just volcanoes, played a key role in past climate shifts and species die-offs. Understanding these natural cycles helps scientists better model Earth's climate system and the long-term effects of carbon emissions.
