Global mean surface temperature

485 million

years ago

400

300

200

100

50

83.3ºF

28.5ºC

64.6

18.1

The largest mass extinction happened 250 million years ago, when gases from volcanic eruptions – including CO₂ – raised Earth’s temperature by more than 18ºF (10ºC) in the span of about 50,000 years...