Asteroid DID wipe out the dinosaurs – and not ‘extreme volcano event’, new study claims
THE DEATH of the dinosaurs was definitely caused by an asteroid impact, according to a team of scientists who were evaluating whether the newer theory that volcanoes led to their demise was accurate.
The researchers used a variety of methods to assess ancient temperature records and the amount of greenhouse gases that could have been in the atmosphere.
According to the study results, volcanic gasses may have still played a role in the decline of the dinosaurs.
However, the researchers do not think it was the driving and initial event that resulted in their demise.
It’s thought that 66million-years-ago, two global catastrophes impacted life on Earth.
As these events were thought to be an asteroid impact and large scale volcanism, it can be hard for scientists to differ between two such massive climate changing events.
The Deccan Traps are a large volcanic region in India.
This area is often related to dinosaur extinction and is thought to have been very active around the time of the death of the dinosaurs.
The researchers decided to focus on something called outgassing.
A model was made to investigate how the timing of outgassing from volcanic activity in the Deccan Traps coincided with dinosaur extinction.
They concluded that at least 50% of the major outgassing occurred way before the dinosaurs had died.
Dinosaurs may have been living with the vapours from the volcanoes but a lot of it is thought to have been absorbed by the sea so it wasn’t lethal for the creatures.
The researchers said: “Deccan volcanism might have contributed to shaping [the rise of Cenozoic species and communities] during the extinction aftermath.”
A timeline of life on Earth
The history of the planet in years...
- 4.6billion years ago – the origin of Earth
- 3.8billion years ago – first life appears on Earth
- 2.1billion years ago – lifeforms made up of multiple cells evolve
- 1.5billion years ago – eukaryotes, which are cells that contain a nucleus inside of their membranes, emerge
- 550million years ago – first arthropods evolve
- 530million years ago – first fish appear
- 470million years ago – first land plants appear
- 380million years ago – forests emerge on Earth
- 370million years ago – first amphibians emerge from the water onto land
- 320million years ago – earliest reptiles evolve
- 230million years ago – dinosaurs evolve
- 200million years ago – mammals appear
- 150million years ago – earliest birds evolve
- 130million years ago – first flowering plants
- 100million years ago – earliest bees
- 55million years ago – hares and rabbits appear
- 30million years ago – first cats evolve
- 20million years ago – great apes evolve
- 7million years ago –first human ancestors appear
- 2million years ago – Homo erectus appears
- 300,000 years ago – Homo sapiens evolves
- 50,000 years ago – Eurasia and Oceania colonised
- 40,000 years ago – Neandethal extinction
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In other news, a huge mile-long double asteroid could threaten life on Earth in millions of years if it eventually breaks up.
A scientist has devised a grim ‘doomsday’ diet humans may have to survive on after a nuclear apocalypse.
And, we’ve rounded up the different types of volcanoes and why they erupt.
Do you agree with the dinosaur killing asteroid theory? Let us know in the comments…
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