How does plate tectonics affect climate change?

Question

Alexander Acosta · Accepted Answer

Massive volcanic eruptions have been known to trip the world into global warming events that caused mass extinctions.

Plate tectonics typically has little effect on climate in the short term, say less than 1000 years. At the moment, human activity such as burning fossil fuels and clearing forests is the main cause of climate change. On the other hand, massive global warming events, such as the end of the Permian and the end of the Ordovician, are caused by plate tectonics on longer time scales (millions of years or so). This may be related to periods when mantel plumes rise up and split large supercontinents. During the process, billions of tonnes of CO2 have been ejected into the atmosphere by these volcanic eruptions, and this could continue for tens of thousands or even millions of years. This could trigger significant biological extinction events and also reroute the course of evolution, with the winners taking over ecological niches left by the vanquished.

Hazel Asher · Answer

undefined In addition to causing the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere through volcanic activity, plate tectonics also affects regional climate patterns through the movement of tectonic plates, which can change ocean currents.