The extinction of dinosaurs may not be solely attributed to a meteorite impact, as a recent study proposes. Instead, massive volcanic eruptions triggering climate change could have played a significant role, challenging the conventional belief that a meteorite was the primary cause.
The study, authored by McGill University's Professor Don Baker and titled "Recurring volcanic winters during the latest Cretaceous: Sulfur and fluorine budgets of Deccan Traps lavas," explores the link between volcanic activity and dinosaur extinction.
Volcanic Activity Before Asteroid Impact Linked to Dinosaur Extinction
Toxic changes were underway in Earth's atmosphere 66 million years ago, preceding the dramatic asteroid impact. Recent international research, analyzing sulfur levels, suggests pre-impact conditions were far from idyllic, indicating substantial volcanic activity alongside elevated mercury levels.
While earlier studies dismissed the timing of this volcanic activity, newer evidence suggests its proximity to the mass extinction event, with potential repeated global temperature drops caused by volcanic sulfur degassing, coinciding with the cooling Cretaceous climate.
The research, led by University of Oslo geoscientist Sara Callegaro, points to the formation of highly concentrated sulfur-containing lava in West India, coinciding with climate changes.
Although the basalt in the region generally contains low sulfur, the slow release of the cooling molecule into the atmosphere from hardened magma following eruptions suggests a possible cause for global temperature drops. This could have resulted in intermittent temperature declines of up to 10°C, followed by rapid recovery periods, within the 100,000 years leading up to the Chicxulub meteor impact.
Fossil evidence and eggshell remnants indicate a prolonged global decline in non-avian dinosaur species during this timeframe. However, conflicting studies have fueled debates between asteroid and volcano theories, with some suggesting the asteroid triggered increased volcanic activity from the Deccan Traps.
The argument for intermittent volcanic eruptions gains support, aligning with the catastrophic role volcanoes played in the previous mass extinction. The research concludes that Deccan Traps volcanism set the stage for a global environmental crisis, inducing recurring short volcanic winters.
McGill's Innovative Technique Unveils Deccan Traps' Impact on Global Climate
The international team of researchers examined rocks from West India's Deccan Traps, one of the world's largest volcanic features. They employed a newly developed technique at McGill University to measure sulfur concentrations in ancient rock samples.
Models based on their findings suggest that the sustained sulfur emissions from the Deccan Traps had a significant impact on altering the global climate, releasing an astonishing one million cubic kilometers of molten rock.
The innovative technique developed at McGill involved estimating sulfur and fluorine releases by analyzing rock samples, similar to calculating salt concentrations in pasta water and pasta.
Some elements become trapped in minerals during the cooling process after a volcanic eruption, and this new method allowed scientists to measure sulfur and fluorine in rock samples, enabling the calculation of the gases released during the eruptions.
Uncovering clues within ancient rocks is crucial for understanding Earth's ancient history and contributes to a more informed approach to studying our current changing climate.
The study represents a collaborative effort to unravel Earth's ancient secrets, showcasing progress in deciphering geological events and their impact on the planet. The insights gained pave the way for a more comprehensive understanding of the Earth's past and present climatic conditions.
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