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Asteroid impact, not volcanism, caused the end-Cretaceous dinosaur extinction.
- Source :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; 7/21/2020, Vol. 117 Issue 29, p17084-17093, 10p
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- The Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction, 66 Ma, included the demise of non-avian dinosaurs. Intense debate has focused on the relative roles of Deccan volcanism and the Chicxulub asteroid impact as kill mechanisms for this event. Here, we combine fossiloccurrence data with paleoclimate and habitat suitability models to evaluate dinosaur habitability in the wake of various asteroid impact and Deccan volcanism scenarios. Asteroid impact models generate a prolonged cold winter that suppresses potential global dinosaur habitats. Conversely, long-term forcing from Deccan volcanism (carbon dioxide [CO2]-induced warming) leads to increased habitat suitability. Short-term (aerosol cooling) volcanism still allows equatorial habitability. These results support the asteroid impact as the main driver of the non-avian dinosaur extinction. By contrast, induced warming from volcanism mitigated the most extreme effects of asteroid impact, potentially reducing the extinction severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- DINOSAUR extinction
VOLCANISM
ASTEROIDS
MASS extinctions
CARBON dioxide
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00278424
- Volume :
- 117
- Issue :
- 29
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 144742154
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2006087117