Asteroid Impact, Not Volcanism, Caused the End-Cretaceous Dinosaur Extinction

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2020 Jul 1

PMID 32601204

Citations 36

Authors

Alfio Alessandro Chiarenza

Alexander Farnsworth

Philip D Mannion

Daniel J Lunt

Paul J Valdes

Joanna V Morgan

Peter A Allison

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction, 66 Ma, included the demise of non-avian dinosaurs. Intense debate has focused on the relative roles of Deccan volcanism and the Chicxulub asteroid impact as kill mechanisms for this event. Here, we combine fossil-occurrence data with paleoclimate and habitat suitability models to evaluate dinosaur habitability in the wake of various asteroid impact and Deccan volcanism scenarios. Asteroid impact models generate a prolonged cold winter that suppresses potential global dinosaur habitats. Conversely, long-term forcing from Deccan volcanism (carbon dioxide [CO]-induced warming) leads to increased habitat suitability. Short-term (aerosol cooling) volcanism still allows equatorial habitability. These results support the asteroid impact as the main driver of the non-avian dinosaur extinction. By contrast, induced warming from volcanism mitigated the most extreme effects of asteroid impact, potentially reducing the extinction severity.

Citing Articles

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The spatiotemporal distribution of Mesozoic dinosaur diversity.

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