Asteroid impact, not volcanism, caused the end-Cretaceous dinosaur extinction
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
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 [CO2]-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.
Date Issued
2020-07-21
Date Acceptance
2020-05-15
Citation
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, 2020, 117 (29), pp.17084-17093
ISSN
0027-8424
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Start Page
17084
End Page
17093
Journal / Book Title
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA
Volume
117
Issue
29
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2020 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.
This open access article is distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License 4.0 (CC BY-NC-ND).
This open access article is distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License 4.0 (CC BY-NC-ND).
Sponsor
The Leverhulme Trust
Identifier
https://www.pnas.org/content/117/29/17084
Grant Number
RF/4/RFG/2010/0159
Subjects
Science & Technology
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Dinosauria
extinction
end-Cretaceous
Chicxulub
Deccan
LARGE IGNEOUS PROVINCES
MASS EXTINCTION
TERTIARY EXTINCTION
PALEOGENE BOUNDARY
DECCAN VOLCANISM
CLIMATE-CHANGE
CHICXULUB
DISTRIBUTIONS
TERRESTRIAL
CONSTRAINTS
Chicxulub
Deccan
Dinosauria
end-Cretaceous
extinction
Animals
Carbon Dioxide
Climate
Dinosaurs
Extinction, Biological
Fossils
History, Ancient
India
Mexico
Minor Planets
Models, Biological
Paleontology
Volcanic Eruptions
Animals
Dinosaurs
Carbon Dioxide
Climate
Minor Planets
Models, Biological
Paleontology
Fossils
History, Ancient
Mexico
India
Extinction, Biological
Volcanic Eruptions
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2020-06-29