article_snippet.sent: And while extreme volcanic eruptions are commonly blamed for triggering the event, research has found the majority of species on the planet were ultimately killed when the oceans became more acidic.
article_snippet.sent: And while extreme volcanic eruptions are commonly blamed for triggering the event, research has found the majority of species on the planet the planet were ultimately killed when the oceans became more acidic .
article_snippet.sent: But it was the acidification of the oceans that was the driving force behind the deadliest phase of the extinction, which dealt a final blow to an already unstable ecosystem, the Scottish researchers said.
article_snippet.sent: Researchers believe this acidification  lasted for around 10,000 years.
article_snippet.sent: But it was the acidification of the oceans that was the driving force behind the deadliest phase of the extinction, which dealt a final blow to an already unstable ecosystem, the Scottish researchers said.
article_snippet.sent: Scientists have long suspected that an ocean acidification event occurred during the greatest mass extinction of all time, but direct evidence has been lacking until now,' said Dr Clarkson from the University of Edinburgh's school of geosciences. '
article_snippet.sent: There were two or three phases of extinction that made up an ocean acidification event. 
article_snippet.sent: Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction - 66 million years ago was an ocean acidification event.
highlights_snippet.sent: And rising acidity 'dealt the final blow' to an already unstable ecosystem .