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How did Permian climates change from the Early Permian to the Late Permian?
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Permian Period
Distribution of landmasses, mountainous regions, shallow seas, and deep ocean basins near the end of the Permian Period. Included in the paleogeographic reconstruction are the locations of the interval's subduction zones.
The climate of the Permian Period underwent a significant transition from widespread glaciation to extreme heat and aridity.12
- Early Permian: The period began with persistent glaciation in regions such as Antarctica, Australia, and parts of India and Siberia, a legacy from the preceding Carboniferous Period.2
- Middle Permian: Climates generally shifted toward warmer and moister conditions.2
- Late Permian: The climate became increasingly hot and dry. As the supercontinent of Pangea assembled, the closure of low-latitude seaways and the formation of high mountain ranges disrupted atmospheric flow and ocean currents. This led to widespread desertification in tropical and subtropical areas.2
By the end of the period, these harsh, arid conditions—potentially exacerbated by massive volcanism from the Siberian Traps—contributed to a severe environmental crisis that triggered the largest mass extinction in Earth's history.12