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Questions and Answers
The asteroid that hit the Earth was approximately 20 kilometers in diameter.
False
The impact of the asteroid created a hole that was 20 kilometers wide.
False
The energy released from the asteroid's impact was equivalent to that of a nuclear bomb.
False
The tsunami that ensued after the impact reached a height of 500 meters.
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All life on Earth was extinguished as a result of the asteroid impact.
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The asteroid's impact caused an immediate drop in temperature by 50°C.
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About 90% of life on Earth went extinct after the asteroid impact.
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The sulfur in the asteroid impact created a toxic gas that killed the dinosaurs.
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The likelihood of another Chicxulub-sized asteroid striking in the next thousand years is about 50%.
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Only small mammals survived the asteroid impact.
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Study Notes
The Chicxulub Asteroid Impact
- 66 million years ago, a massive asteroid (12 km wide) struck the Yucatán Peninsula at 20 km/s, causing a massive extinction event.
- The impact created a 100 km wide hole, ejecting sedimentary and crystalline rocks, and triggered a massive collapse of the crater.
Immediate Effects of the Impact
- The energy released was equivalent to several billion nuclear bombs.
- Seismic energy was sent across the planet, causing massive landslides and a tsunami potentially reaching 1,500 meters high.
- Countless lives were extinguished, with all life within 1,500 km of the impact site incinerated instantly.
Long-term Consequences
- The asteroid sent hundreds of gigatons of carbon-dioxide-rich limestone and sulfur-saturated-sediments into the atmosphere, blocking the Sun and causing an extended period of darkness.
- The temperature in many places dropped by at least 25°C, leading to the collapse of food webs worldwide.
- An estimated 75% of life on Earth went extinct, including almost all dinosaurs.
Surviving Lifeforms
- Small birds, insects, early mammals, and photosynthetic lifeforms like algae survived the extinction event.
- These organisms likely survived due to their ability to adapt to the new environment, such as relying on hardy seeds or withstanding low-light conditions.
Modern Implications
- The likelihood of another Chicxulub-like event in the next thousand years is small (7 in a million).
- However, humanity is facing rapid climate change due to its own emissions, leading to animal extinctions and displacement of people.
- Unlike the dinosaurs, humans have the opportunity to avoid large-scale devastation by changing their behavior.
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Description
Learn about the massive asteroid that hit Earth 66 million years ago, causing a dramatic change in the planet's ecosystem and leading to the extinction of dinosaurs.
