Where Knowledge Rules

Sciences:

Earth Science

Get a Widget for this title

How BP Gulf disaster may have triggered a 'world-killing' event

Ominous reports are leaking past the BP Gulf salvage operation news blackout that the disaster unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico may be about to reach biblical proportions.

251 million years ago a mammoth undersea methane bubble caused massive explosions, poisoned the atmosphere and destroyed more than 96 percent of all life on Earth. [1] Experts agree that what is known as the Permian extinction event was the greatest mass extinction event in the history of the world. [2]



55 million years later another methane bubble ruptured causing more mass extinctions during the Late Paleocene Thermal Maximum (LPTM).

The LPTM lasted 100,000 years. [3]

Those subterranean seas of methane virtually reshaped the planet when they explosively blew from deep beneath the waters of what is today called the Gulf of Mexico.

Now, worried scientists are increasingly concerned the same series of catastrophic events that led to worldwide death back then may be happening again-and no known technology can stop it.

The bottom line: BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling operation may have triggered an irreversible, cascading geological Apocalypse that will culminate with the first mass extinction of life on Earth in many millions of years.

The oil giant drilled down miles into a geologically unstable region and may have set the stage for the eventual premature release of a methane mega-bubble.

Ryskin’s methane extinction theory

Northwestern University's Gregory Ryskin, a bio-chemical engineer, has a theory: The oceans periodically produce massive eruptions of explosive methane gas. He has documented the scientific evidence that such an event was directly responsible for the mass extinctions that occurred 55 million years ago. [4]

Many geologists concur: "The consequences of a methane-driven oceanic eruption for marine and terrestrial life are likely to be catastrophic. Figuratively speaking, the erupting region "boils over," ejecting a large amount of methane and other gases (e.g., CO2, H2S) into the atmosphere, and flooding large areas of land. Whereas pure methane is lighter than air, methane loaded with water droplets is much heavier, and thus spreads over the land, mixing with air in the process (and losing water as rain). The air-methane mixture is explosive at methane concentrations between 5% and 15%; as such mixtures form in different locations near the ground and are ignited by lightning, explosions and conflagrations destroy most of the terrestrial life, and also produce great amounts


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

How BP Gulf disaster may have triggered a 'world-killing' event

  • 1 of 12

    by Aaron Davis

    The fear that the BP Gulf disaster may trigger a “world killing” event should not be dismiss as simply yet another

    read more

  • 2 of 12

    by Dave Nocera

    Now that the BP Gulf leak has been stopped all eyes are on the cleanup of 219 million gallons of oil that BP spewed into

    read more

  • 3 of 12

    by yeshe

    If methane is going to spew all over the place in the gulf and possible in other areas then a solution needs to be

    read more

  • 4 of 12

    by Willie Bear

    First of all, I want to condemn BP for causing this environmental disaster. The laundry list of shortcuts and profit-driven

    read more

  • 5 of 12

    by Terrence Aym

    Ominous reports are leaking past the BP Gulf salvage operation news blackout that the disaster unfolding in the Gulf of

    read more

View All Articles on:
How BP Gulf disaster may have triggered a 'world-killing' event

Add your voice

Know something about How BP Gulf disaster may have triggered a 'world-killing' event?
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Winters are becoming colder

Click for your side.

150919

Featured Partner

Private Sector Solutions Network

Private Sector Solutions Network is a group of leaders working together to improve the world by developing and implem...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Video | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA