Exploring the links between Large Igneous Provinces and dramatic environmental impact An emerging consensus suggests that Large Igneous Provinces LIPs and Silicic LIPs SLIPs are a significant driver of dramatic global environmental and biological changes including mass extinctions. Environmental changes caused by LIPs and SLIPs include rapid global warming global cooling Snowball Earth oceanic anoxia events mercury poisoning atmospheric and oceanic acidification and sea level changes. Continued