This meteor idea is annoying! I keep hearing it but it seems to contradict the fact of a gradual extinction over a really really really long period of time. I can appreciate an impact could and probably did kill a lot of species, but extinction of the dinosaurs was a long long way from overnight, or even two weeks from next Tuesday.
2007-11-11 14:33:58 · 5 answers · asked by Peter A Child 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Whilst this remains a popular idea you are correct that dinosaurs were not wiped out quickly.
Recent research suggests that a series of monumental volcanic eruptions in India may have killed the dinosaurs. The eruptions, which created the gigantic Deccan Traps lava beds of India , are now the prime suspect .
The main Deccan eruptions at or near the K-T boundary and the massive carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide output of each major eruption dwarfs the output of the Chicxulub asteroid hit.
2007-11-11 20:24:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what I understand, the meteor hit the Earth and killed a whole bunch of dinosaurs, but not all of them. They all became extinct when the effects of the meteor went into action - a huge cloud of smoke covered the atmosphere, dropping Earth's temperature by quite a bit. After the long, cold period, things got hot. Unbearably hot. Basically, anything that survived the meteor died out eventually due to the crazy weather.
2007-11-12 00:25:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is difficult to say EXACTLY when the last dinosaur died, because the fossils are big; it is easier to point to exactly when a particular microscopic diatom disappeared. A few thousand years is a very very short time geologically. There was a big meteor hit and it probably had something to do with it, but how much is the subject of debate.
2007-11-12 00:31:49 · answer #3 · answered by Howard H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your question is actully the topic of debate in the science community right now. The idea of abrupt extinction vs prolonged extinction over time. You might try a google scholar search if you want to know more about the cutting edge science being done in paleontology on this topic.
2007-11-11 22:39:57 · answer #4 · answered by magnetic__reversal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Guy on the History Channel last night shows the period in the side of the wall in which Dinosaur's are found, then after that in stuff above it no diansores are found. Meaning they disappeared suddenly a million years ago. :)
2007-11-11 22:43:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋