DinoFest 2019 Speaker: Celina Suarez

Volcanos, the End-Triassic Extinction, and the Diversification of Dinosaurs: A Utah Prospective by Celina Suarez, associate professor of geology at the University of Arkansas

 

A paleontologist takes a measurement while standing in badlands.

The Late Triassic-Early Jurassic witnessed not only one of the ‘Big Five’ mass extinctions, but also paved the way for the diversification of dinosaurs. The End-Triassic extinction was likely caused by the rapid climatic changes that occurred due to rapid emission of carbon from volcanism associated with the rifting of the supercontinent Pangea. This event offers a unique analogue for modern climate change. Dr. Suarez will discuss the record of the end-Triassic mass extinction and related climate changes in Utah, and how we attain such a record.

Return to the DinoFest 2019 overview.