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For a long time, it was thought that the extinction of dinosaurs was caused by an asteroid collision. However, new research suggests that another factor may have played a more significant role.
Approximately 66 million years ago, a massive asteroid with a diameter of 10 to 15 kilometres collided with Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The resulting impact caused widespread destruction, triggering wildfires, earthquakes, and megatsunamis. This catastrophic event ultimately led to the collapse of the ecosystem, ending the flourishing existence of plants and animals.
According to a recent article in Nature Geoscience, scientists argue that previous investigations have overlooked the significance of an additional factor in the mass extinction of dinosaurs: the massive quantities of dust ejected into the atmosphere upon impact of the asteroid.
Belgian scientists hypothesize that the asteroid triggered a “global winter” by releasing dark clouds of silicate dust and sulphur into the atmosphere. This is believed to have blocked out the sun’s rays and caused a decrease in global surface temperature of up to 15C.
The absence of light would have posed a challenge for plants, resulting in herbivores not having enough food and ultimately leading to starvation. This would have left carnivores without their prey and caused a severe reduction of 75% of species throughout the entire food chain.
It was believed that an immense amount of dust, equivalent to trillions of tons, had been forcefully expelled into the atmosphere.
Scientists estimate that there were approximately 2,000 gigatonnes of dust in the atmosphere, which is over 11 times the weight of Mount Everest.
Scientists conducted computer simulations using sediment samples from a fossil location in North Dakota. The results showed that the sediment could have caused a two-year long blockage of sunlight and remained in the atmosphere for 15 years, hindering plant photosynthesis and ultimately causing the collapse of the natural ecosystem.
According to the research, the asteroid caused significant damage upon impact, but did not immediately cause the extinction of dinosaurs. Instead, it gradually led to their decline over the course of a few years.
Some scientists argue that the consequences of the asteroid’s impact would be comparable to those of a nuclear bomb hitting Earth.
Last year, Louisiana State University Professor Cherly Harrison and her team published a report forecasting that smoke and black carbon would be released into the air, leading to a “Nuclear Little Ice Age” by blocking sunlight.
Although the dinosaurs perished in a catastrophic event approximately 66 million years ago, their disappearance may have played a vital role in the evolution of human beings.
According to planetary scientist Philippe Claeys, the dinosaurs were thriving on Earth until a meteorite struck. He is a co-author of the study.
Assuming there was no influence, it is likely that mammals, including humans, had a low probability of becoming the most prevalent organisms on Earth.
Source: independent.co.uk
