[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index][Subject Index][Author Index]

[dinosaur] End-Cretaceous extinction in Antarctica linked to both Deccan volcanism and meteorite impact (free pdf)




Ben Creisler
bcreisler@gmail.com


A new paper in open access:

Sierra V. Petersen, Andrea Dutton & Kyger C. Lohmann (2016)
End-Cretaceous extinction in Antarctica linked to both Deccan volcanism and meteorite impact via climate change.
Nature Communications 7: 12079 
doi:10.1038/ncomms12079
http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2016/160705/ncomms12079/full/ncomms12079.html



The cause of the end-Cretaceous (KPg) mass extinction is still debated due to difficulty separating the influences of two closely timed potential causal events: eruption of the Deccan Traps volcanic province and impact of the Chicxulub meteorite. Here we combine published extinction patterns with a new clumped isotope temperature record from a hiatus-free, expanded KPg boundary section from Seymour Island, Antarctica. We document a 7.8±3.3 °C warming synchronous with the onset of Deccan Traps volcanism and a second, smaller warming at the time of meteorite impact. Local warming may have been amplified due to simultaneous disappearance of continental or sea ice. Intra-shell variability indicates a possible reduction in seasonality after Deccan eruptions began, continuing through the meteorite event. Species extinction at Seymour Island occurred in two pulses that coincide with the two observed warming events, directly linking the end-Cretaceous extinction at this site to both volcanic and meteorite events via climate change.


News:


http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/24010-warming-pulses-in-ancient-climate-record-link-volcanoes-asteroid-impact-and-dinosaur-killing-mass-extinction

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/07/ancient-global-warming-spikes-suggest-dinosaurs-died-double-disaster

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160705112138.htm