Final answer:
The likely cause of the final, dramatic pulse of warming 55 million years ago during the global warming event on Earth is believed to be the massive release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The likely cause of the final, dramatic pulse of warming 55 million years ago during the global warming event on Earth is believed to be the massive release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
This event, known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), was characterized by a rapid increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, leading to a significant rise in global temperatures.
This increase in carbon dioxide has been attributed to several factors, including volcanic activity, the decomposition of organic matter, and the release of methane hydrates from the ocean floor.
However, the exact trigger of the PETM is still debated among scientists.
The release of carbon dioxide during the PETM resulted in a 5-8 °C increase in global temperatures over a relatively short period of time, causing significant changes to ecosystems and the extinction of certain species.