What Happened to the Dinosaurs?
The dinosaurs were giant reptiles that practically dominated all species on the earth. Several million years after the extinction of dinosaurs, humans emerged as a dominant mammalian species on earth.
The dinosaurs rose to the top of the food chain on earth in the Mesozoic Era. This era started around 245 million years ago with the Triassic period. The Middle Ages of this era are clubbed under the Jurassic period. Yes! The famous movie, Jurassic Park, is named after this period. The Jurassic period was the time when dinosaurs were thriving on our planet. The Mesozoic Era ended with the Cretaceous period 66 million years ago, when an asteroid collided with earth.
Then the day came when the huge and fearsome dinosaurs were caught unawares by a celestial event. An asteroid managed to burn through the earth’s atmosphere and hit the planet in the area now identified as the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. The result was a mass-extinction event that ended up killing 75 per cent of all living beings, including the dinosaurs.
The killer asteroid
The asteroid that hit the earth was 10-15 km in radius, which is roughly about the size of a mountain. It became a weapon of mass destruction because of the speed at which it hit the earth. Scientists now estimate the space rock’s speed to be 64,000 kilometres per hour when it hit the earth. The collision created a massive crater (also called the Chicxulub Crater) with a diameter of 150-km on the eastern coast of Mexico.
What happened next?
After the collision, scientists believe, a series of devastating events took place. These events not only killed all living beings in the impact zone and led to the annihilation of most life forms around the world. The impact formed a crater 150-km wide. It released energy equivalent to 4 billion nuclear bombs, as the one dropped on Hiroshima in the Second World War. It vapourised everything within the crater and threw up debris in the atmosphere, partially blocking the sun for years. This collision brought darkness all over, triggering global winters for months or possibly for years. It is also believed that the blast effect from the impact triggered Tsunamis as high as 1,000 feet that inundated vast portions of land around the world.
Conclusion
Scientists investigating the asteroid event have detected an iridium spike at Ground Zero. Iridium is a rare mineral on earth, but it is found in higher volumes in some asteroids. The presence of iridium in the asteroid dust has reinforced the theory of asteroid collision, confirming the belief that it was responsible for bringing the reign of dinosaurs on earth to an end.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What age did the dinosaurs live in?
The dinosaurs lived in the Mesozoic Era. Their reign started around 245 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago with the mass-extinction event.
- What supported the theory that an asteroid killed dinosaurs?
The discovery of a 150-km wide crater supported the theory that an asteroid collision killed the dinosaurs. The presence of iridium, a mineral found on asteroids, in the crater has reinforced this belief.
- Did birds evolve from dinosaurs?
Birds are believed to have evolved from dinosaurs that could fly. Just as humans evolved from apes, birds descended from the family of raptors, a species of the flying dinosaurs.
- How big was the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs?
The asteroid that is believed to have annihilated the dinosaurs on earth was around 10 km in diameter.
- Were all living organisms killed in the extinction-level event?
No. All dinosaurs living on the land were wiped out. Several smaller organisms are believed to have survived. Avians and many species in water habitats also survived the asteroid event.
- Were dinosaurs mammals?
No, all dinosaurs were reptiles.
