article_snippet.sent: The Earth could be suffering from shifts in The Earth biochemical balance similar to those believed to have wiped out half of all life 200 million years ago.
article_snippet.sent: The study authors fear that the planet today could suffer similar consequences .
article_snippet.sent: The study authors fear that the planet today could suffer similar consequences caused by the amount of carbon dioxide being created through the burning of fossil fuels.
article_snippet.sent: As tectonic plates shifted to break up Pangaea, huge volcanic rifts would have spewed carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, leading to rising temperatures from the greenhouse effect,' said Professor Jessica Whiteside. '
article_snippet.sent: The rapid rises in CO2 would have triggered changes in ocean circulation, acidification and deoxygenation.
article_snippet.sent: The same CO2 rise that led to the oxygen-depleted oceans also led to a mass extinction on land, and ultimately to the ecological takeover by dinosaurs, although the mechanisms are still under study.' the north-eastern Panthalassic Ocean explained that although the Earth was very different during the Triassic period, the rate of carbon dioxide release from volcanic rifts are similar to those we are experiencing now through the burning of fossil fuels.
article_snippet.sent: Professor Whiteside added: 'The release of CO2 was probably at least as rapid as that caused by the burning of fossil fuels today, although the initial concentrations were much higher in the Triassic. '
article_snippet.sent: The consequences of rapidly rising CO2 in ancient times inform us of the possible consequences of us own carbon dioxide crisis.'
highlights_snippet.sent: The rate of CO2 released from burning fossil fuels has increased .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: The rate of CO2 released from burning fossil fuels is now similar to levels released from volcanic rifts during Triassic .
  