Massive Lava Outburst: The Catalyst for Snowball Earth 717 Million Years Ago

A study suggests that a massive volcanic eruption 717 million years ago, covering an area three times the size of Texas, may have triggered the "Snowball Earth" glaciation episode. The eruption led to chemical reactions that removed carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, resulting in global cooling. The cooling effect was primarily caused by the weathering of lava rocks, which absorbed CO2 through a chemical reaction with rainwater. The timing of the volcanic eruption aligns with the onset of the glaciation, indicating that chemical weathering played a significant role in Earth's cooling. However, some experts remain skeptical about the timing and suggest that the start of Snowball Earth may have occurred later than currently thought.