Reply to the comment by J. R. Ali on “Illawarra Reversal: the fingerprint of a superplume that triggered Pangean breakup and the end-Guadalupian (Permian) mass extinction” by Yukio Isozaki

The following four major questions were raised about my recent proposal for the possible link between the end-Guadalupian extinction and a unique geomagnetic event called the Illawarra Reversal (Isozaki, 2009a); 1) timings of extinction, cooling, and the Illawarra Reversal (end of the Kiaman Superchron), 2) geomagnetic intensity during superchrons, 3) ascent rate of mantle plume, and 4) age constraints of LIP volcanism in east Pangea. The latest research results on the Permian biodiversity change, numerical modeling of plume, and single-crystal measurement of geomagnetism support that the timings of extinction and the Illawarra Reversal, high field intensity during the Kiaman superchron, and ascent rate of plume are reasonably explained in accordance with the integrated “plume winter” scenario (Isozaki, 2009b). The onset ages of LIP volcanism need further refinement for identifying the impingement of a plume head.