Chicxulub: The Impact and Tsunami

The Story of the Largest Known Asteroid to Hit the Earth

Autor*innen

• David Shonting

Parameter

• 148 Seiten
• 6 Lesestunden

• Wissenschaft

Mehr zum Buch

This book explores the catastrophic impact of the 10 Km asteroid Chicxulub in the ancient Gulf of Mexico 65.5 million years ago. It begins by discussing asteroids and the potential for future Earth impacts. The narrative shifts to the discovery of a global sediment layer linked to the fallout from the impact, revealing a massive crater hidden beneath the Gulf. The text reviews extensive geological and fossil evidence that illustrates the disastrous events triggered by a "nuclear-like" explosion that formed the mega-crater and generated tsunamis. The aftermath led to significant global climate changes, including a "Nuclear Winter" of freezing darkness followed by intense greenhouse warming. A chapter focuses on tsunami science and modeling, depicting the catastrophic waves unleashed by Chicxulub. The asteroid's impact resulted in the extinction of about 70% of animal and plant life, including the dinosaurs. An examination of an ancient Cambrian fossil bed highlights how random events can influence the future evolution of life on Earth. The narrative shows how the extinction of dinosaurs and the rise of small mammals reshaped the trajectory of human evolution. This work offers a compelling perspective on the geological, climatological, and oceanographic consequences of a monumental astronomical event.

• Sprache: Englisch
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2018
• Einband: Paperback