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It is generally thought that the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs was caused by a huge asteroid that hit the Earth 66 million years ago. Two new studies estimate, however, that a huge volcanic eruption may also have played a role in the disappearance of the dino.
Both studies, published in Science, examine the link between the impact on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico that may have triggered volcanic eruptions in India. In one document, they were able to determine specific dates for the eruptions, noting the "sequence of eruptions of a million years" sending lava to hundreds of kilometers across the planet. India, creating basalts from Deccan Traps floods.
"Now that we have dated the Deccan Traps lava flows in more and different places, we see that the transition seems to be the same everywhere," said Paul Renne, professor in residence at Berkely University, in a statement. "I would say, with a lot of confidence, that the eruptions occurred in the 50,000 or even 30,000 years of impact, which means that they were synchronous within the margin of. fault."
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"This is an important validation of the hypothesis that the impact of renewed lava flows is repeated," added Renne.
The dinosaur footprint / Apatosaurus, a type of sauropod (© The Hunterian, University of Glasgow / iStock / Warpaintcobra)
What is perhaps even more surprising, is that three quarters of the lava flow burst after the impact, while previous studies indicated that about 80% of the lava had preceded the impact.
The researchers were able to use the argon-argon dating method to measure rocks and determine their origin, based on previous research. Using the new method, they were able to determine a date of 66,052,000 years ago, "give or take 8,000 years".
Layered lava flows into the Wai subgroup of near Ambenali Ghat, Western Ghats. (Credit: Courtney's Sprain)
Assuming the majority of the lava came out after the impact, the gases that entered the atmosphere were probably sucked for a long period of time, similar to what is seen with the mount. Etna in Italy and Popocatepetl in Mexico.
"We suggest that it is very likely that much of the gas from the magma systems precedes eruptions, they do not necessarily correlate with eruptions," Renne said. In the case of the extinction of K-Pg, the symptoms of a significant climate change occurred before the peak of volcanic eruptions.
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Courtney Sprain, the lead author of one of the studies, said that the results of this study alter the role played by Deccan traps in the extinction of K-Pg, also known as the extinction occurred at the end of the Cretaceous.
"Either the Deccan eruptions have not played a role – which seems to us unlikely – that a lot of climate-modifying gases have been released during the lowest volume impulse of blowouts," Sprain said in a statement. even communicated.
A study published in January indicated that the impact of the asteroid had caused a global tsunami that had reached more than 5,000 feet in the air.
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