Re: Extinction (was Jurassic Intelligence)

[Stan Friesen <swf@ElSegundoCA.ATTGIS.COM>]

>From: Peter Sheehan <sheehan@csd.uwm.edu>
 > Last December Dale Russell and I actually took a shot at 
 > what would happen to humans if a K/T sized impact happened today.  We would
 > love to hear your comments.
 > 
 > Sheehan, P.M. and Russell, D.A. 1994, Faunal change following the K-T 
 > impact:  Using paleontological data to assess the hazards of impacts.  
 > In: T. Gherels, Editor.  Hazards Due to Comets and Asteroids.  Tucson, 
 > AZ, Univ. Arizona Press, p. 879-893.
 > 
I haven't read this yet, however I have some skepticism as to
our current ability to accurately model such things.  We really
know very little about the long term effects of such large
events.

For instance, there is some reason to suspect that the original
"nuclear winter" estimates were *grossly* overblown.  One worker,
after establishing a milder estimate, said the result is more
like a "nuclear autumn" than a winter.

[It turns out that, in general, more detailed simulations show
less extensive, and shorter term, climatic effects than the original
coarse models].
 

swf@elsegundoca.attgis.com              sarima@netcom.com

The peace of God be with you.