The cause of the largest extinction

Scientists have identified the causes of the Great Permian Extinction, during which 81% of marine animals and 70% of terrestrial vertebrates, as well as some plants, disappeared. The cause of this largest catastrophe in Earth's history is linked to ozone depletion caused by massive volcanic eruptions, as revealed by sulfur isotope analysis in Permian deposits. It is likely that explosive volcanism destroyed the ozone layer, reducing the number of oxygen molecules on the planet that block ultraviolet radiation. This led to negative consequences for flora and fauna.