NEW EVIDENCE THAT VOLCANOS KILLED THE DINOSAURS -

Red Nova ^ | September 15, 2003

[UnklGene]

September 15, 2003

Could an enormous volcanic eruption have killed the dinosaurs?

Cardiff University -- The extinction of the dinosaurs -– thought to be caused by an asteroid impact some 65 million years ago –- was more likely to have been caused by a 'mantle plume' -– a huge volcanic eruption from deep within the earth's mantle, the region between the crust and the core of the earth.

This theory, already supported by a significant body of geologists and palaeontologists, is strengthened by new evidence to be presented at an international conference at Cardiff University on 11-12 September.

Research by an American earth scientist, Professor Gerta Keller and her team, suggests that a similar eruption under the Indian Ocean several million years before the extinction of the dinosaurs had a similarly devastating impact on the environment.

However, at this earlier time there is no evidence of any asteroid impact.

Her findings are based on analysis of microfossil assemblages, which were found inside cores that had been drilled deep into sediments on the ocean floor.

The eruptions that were responsible for these two extinction events were as a result of mantle plumes -– a phenomenon caused by rising hot mantle from deep within the earth.

Likened to the actions of a lava lamp, the mantle's heat causes it to rise and mushroom out; it then flattens causing the mantle to melt and erupt magma over the earth's surface and across an area of some 1,000 kilometres diameter.

These eruptions last between one and two million years and more than one million cubic kilometres of lava can be erupted in that time.

Today, we can witness seven huge remnants of such mantle plume activity. These are also known as 'hotspots' and are responsible for the volcanic activity on Iceland, the islands of Hawaii, Easter, Reunion, Tristan and Louisville as well as volcanism in the Afar region of Ethopia.

"Mantle plumes are literally a hot topic for debate," said conference organiser Dr Andrew Kerr of Cardiff University's School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences.

"They are a catalyst for the formation of ocean basins and fundamentally reshaping the earth's surfaces. The massive outpouring of lava, ashes, and gas can have significant effects on climate, which destabilises the environment and have the potential to dictate the course of evolution. It is likely that were it not for mantle plumes, mammals would not have become predominant, and humankind would not be here today.

"Bizarrely, amongst earth scientists, there is also a vocal minority who don't believe that mantle plumes exist at all. This conference is therefore an opportunity to address these issues and validity of the links between mantle plumes with the evolution of life by bringing together geophysicists, petrologists and palaeontologists."

[Consort]

Man, when we finally find out wht happened to the dinosaurs, we're really goin to......what are we going to do?

[jennyp]

Try lot's and lot's of water, covering the whole earth!

But where'd all the water go? (For just one problem...)

[Conservative4Ever]

Actually, I think it was all planned obsolesence. Dinosaurs had to all die off at that particular time so they would be petrolum now for all of our SUV's. Somebody way back then did the math.

Red

[Aracelis]

I still think the impact in Chicxulub triggered the formation of the Deccan Traps...between the two events, the dinos were toast.

[PatrickHenry]

The more you know about dinos, the more you realize that the cause of their extinction was unprotected sex. (I know so many things ...)

[LiteKeeper]

Land masses rose, mountains were created, and what we now know of as oceans were formed.

[Reverend Bob]

I'm WAY late for this thread, but the whole debate thus far was summed up best in a book called NIGHT COMES TO THE CRETACEOUS. The evidence for both the K-T Impact AND Dinosaur extinction being at the end of the Cretaceous (rather than at an earlier point) is overwhelming. Gerta Keller is one of only a handful of scientists remaining who's made a career out taking the contrarian view. The portrait of her in the book mentioned above (or at least the depiction of her as an ethical scientist) is not flattering. While I won't judge someone on secondhand information, her track record has not been good in those areas I've been able to check.

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents as you might find that book interesting. :-)

[null and void]

That and T.Rex and the Crater of Doom by Walter Alvarez

[SauronOfMordor]

It was the Chixlub Crater in Mexico 65 million years ago that killed the dinasaurs.

Perhaps it was both. A jolt from an asteroid strike would doubtless set off strings of earthquakes and eruptions wherever conditions were on the edge

[tet68]

"Mantle plumes are literally a hot topic for debate," said conference organiser Dr Andrew Kerr of Cardiff University's School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences.

Wiiild and Craaaazy guys those EOP scientists, anything for a laugh.

Hey, you dropped your pocket protector!
Zuuuuuuup!

[Aracelis]

However, at this earlier time there is no evidence of any asteroid impact.

This doesn't mean that such an event did not occur...only that there is no evidence as of yet.

[Aracelis]

It was the Chixlub Crater in Mexico 65 million years ago that killed the dinasaurs.

More specifically, it was most likely the bolide which resulted in the crater's formation that was responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs.

[Aracelis]

The evidence for both the K-T Impact AND Dinosaur extinction being at the end of the Cretaceous (rather than at an earlier point) is overwhelming.

Indeed, but I'm part of the lunatic fringe that believes bolide impacts were responsible for the formation of the Deccan Traps...thus sealing the fate of the dinos either by the impact itself, or the atmospheric changes associated with extensive volcanism.

[Aracelis]

the Crater of Doom by Walter Alvarez

I was so taken with his work that I named our very fertile Guinea Pig after him. "Alvarez-Piggers"! You've gone to the Great Pig-Pen in the sky! Sigh...miss that Pig.

[Fledermaus]

I'm still on the "giant asteroid hits" theory. That's one huge crater that helped create the Gulf of Mexico.

[Fledermaus]

I'm with you. I buy the bird theory. It makes so much sense with the evidence.

[Fledermaus]

ROFL, good point. But I don't understand this...if it's "fossil fuel" that created the so-called finite supply of oil, doesn't that assume things stopped dying after the dinasours since we keep finding more and more oil?

[Aracelis]

Perhaps it was both. A jolt from an asteroid strike would doubtless set off strings of earthquakes and eruptions wherever conditions were on the edge

Which was the topic of my Senior Thesis...however, my advisor thought it too ambitious of a project for an undergrad (and a woman), and thus my "thesis" never had any support. But I still hold the view that a big ol' "smack" on one side of the globe could and would trigger massive volcanism on the other side of the globe.

Any MEN wanna take on the project? I'll help, IF you list me a co-author.

[Fledermaus]

Very good. I like that idea. A massive asteroid that would create such a crater near a land fault would, it seems, instigate shifts and turmoil that could start volcanic eruptions or even just the release of gases, etc.

[Aracelis]

But I don't understand this...if it's "fossil fuel" that created the so-called finite supply of oil, doesn't that assume things stopped dying after the dinasours since we keep finding more and more oil?

I seem to vaguely recall an article which postulated that oil is still being created today, however at a much slower rate than what created the fossil fuels we enjoy today. If you would like, I'll try to dig up the reference.