Mass Extinction Of Dinosaurs Essay

During recent studies, scientists have discovered prevailing evidence which support the idea that a major meteorite impact may not have been the sole cause of the mass extinction involving the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Researchers have discovered an array of huge volcanic eruptions in india 66 million years ago which released large amounts of gases into the atmosphere, which drastically altered the climate.

This new theory does not in fact eliminate the theory of a massive meteorite being a leading cause for the extinction of the dinosaurs, it simply examines how the meteorite is likely to not be the sole reason of why the dinosaurs may have become extinct. These massive volcanic eruptions are said to have begun 250,000 years before the mass extinction event, and would have lasted a total of 750,000 years, which is fairly short in geological time.

These volcanic eruptions have been thought to have led to the extinction of the dinosaurs in many different ways. Firstly, the massive number of volcanic eruptions are presumed to have produced enormous …show more content…
However, it is possible that some life forms thriving in the depths of the seas might have been able to survive these volcanic eruptions which caused the mass extinction. Firstly, if temperatures plummeted, the oceans would only freeze up to a certain depth, and therefore life living below that depth would not be frozen and would have a chance at survival. Also, molten lava wouldn’t necessarily be able to kill the creatures of the oceans since when the lava enters the water, it will cool and solidify as it makes its way down to the ocean floor. This lava may also counter the plummeting temperatures and heat the ocean, creating a temperate and ideal living condition for marine