Mass extinctions and crazy weather

Mass extinctions are periods in Earth’s history when large numbers of species died out in a relatively short period of time. What can we learn from these past extinctions of mass proportions, and how did life recovered afterwards? Do these events provide any clues as to which species go extinct and why? In this talk, Erin will discuss her research investigating how species respond to extinction events that are often triggered by environmental change, and how we might apply lessons learned to present-day and future conservation.

Some consequences of a warming world, namely an increased likelihood of more heat and high precipitation extremes, are predictable, but regionally these can be counteracted by changes in weather patterns, or be amplified by local forces. To understand how the risks of extreme events are changing requires a holistic perspectives combining climate science and understanding vulnerabilities. The emerging science of event attribution provides the necessary basis to assess such risks at the spatial scales people care about.