A brief window where the ocean was safer than the land
In short: During the Lopingian period, Earth's surface was so lethal that the water became a relative sanctuary. This video explores a unique geological era defined by extreme predators and a rapidly spinning planet.
Spanning from 259 to 252 million years ago, the Lopingian was the final chapter of the Permian period. It was characterized by the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea and the superocean Panthalassa. During this time, the Earth's rotation was faster, resulting in days that lasted only 22 hours.
The era is notable for a biological paradox: the land was teeming with predators significantly more dangerous than dinosaurs, while the oceans remained relatively devoid of such lethal creatures. This period also featured a closer Moon, which created colossal, unpredictable tides that reshaped coastal ecosystems before the Permian-Triassic mass extinction.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Only Era When Water Was Safer Than Earth | 4K
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