Dinosaurs were much bigger than cars so wouldn’t their emissions much larger too. if so was there a Mesozoic greenhouse affect
2006-09-06 22:17:54 · 8 answers · asked by jack w 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
I think this is a relevant question. Much is made of the possible impact of cattle and sheep in producing the greenhouse gas methane, and possible climatic impacts. Given the vast population of huge animals that existed in the Mesozoic, it looks to a possibility.
A couple of points though:
Ruminants have a particularly efficient digestive system relying on stomach bacteria, and we don't know if dinosaurs had that. After all horses don't, and they get on OK. We do know some dinosaurs at least used stomach stones to gring food, so they possibly were less "biologically" efficient.
Also, a herd of sauropods (the gigantic long-necked dinosaurs) must have tampled huge swathes of vegetation as they foraged, probably destroying far more than they ate. The breakdown and re-growth of that possibly had much more impact than direct effects from the animals bodies.
See also my question on a related topic.
2006-09-06 23:23:00 · answer #1 · answered by Paul FB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In other words, if we were to use elephants to commute everyday, because elephants are bigger than cars we'd be in a worse situation with greenhouse gasses than we are now? Funny logic eh?
Car emissions are by far larger than that of a dinosaur, or any organism for that matter. Also, greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to a lot of other things, such as electricity generation, industrial activities, aviation, etc.
Dinosaurs didn't burn coal to generate electricity, they didn't use that electricity to make things and they didn't fly on planes. They ate, breathed and farted. Not enough I suspect to cause global warming.
2006-09-07 05:21:51 · answer #2 · answered by k² 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "greenhouse effect" is merely the natural order of evolution. Current "civilisation" is so arrogant as to think that mother nature is being managed by man. Rest assured that these global changes have happened before, bringing about the birth of plant and animal life - including homo sapiens- and changes will happen again. We are not in control - we are interested observers.
2006-09-07 05:28:41 · answer #3 · answered by Doctor H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The green house effect can not be implemented when we talk about nature.....They were natural....circumstances were favourable....they don't exist today because the circumstances are not the same.......there is a balance in nature, a balance means a Creator to make things happen accordingly.....
And i have not heard that dinosaurs consumed fuel to perform daily activities...\
Cheers
2006-09-07 05:50:10 · answer #4 · answered by JUDEdaObscure 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was warmer during the time of the dinosaurs than it is today because the levels of atmospheric co2 were higher. Your theory could contribute a little to the already high co2 levels, back then, i guess.
2006-09-07 05:29:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
nah, the burning of fuel sends much more emission than 10 dinosaurs can produce.
2006-09-07 05:28:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dinosaurs don't "fart" constantly while walking
2006-09-07 05:27:30 · answer #7 · answered by genghis41f 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
n
2006-09-07 05:21:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋