Asteroid Theory Of Dinosaur Extinction: Alvarez Hypothesis

Asteroids are rocky bodies that orbit the sun between Mars and Jupiter. Asteroids have been known to cause mass extinctions throughout history. In fact, they were responsible for killing off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. So what asteroid theory of dinosaur extinction say? and what about Alvarez's Hypothesis? Read on to learn more about the extinction of dinosaurs. 

The asteroid theory of dinosaur extinction was first proposed in 1908 by the German geologist Alfred Wegener. He suggested that a meteorite collision caused a massive amount of debris to enter Earth's atmosphere. This caused a global dust cloud that blocked out the sunlight. As a result, temperatures dropped drastically and the oceans became acidic. This led to the extinction of many species, including the dinosaurs.

Wegener's theory was met with skepticism at first, but his ideas gained traction over time. New evidence supported his claims. And scientists began to accept the idea that asteroids could cause mass extinctions.

In 2004, researchers discovered a crater in Antarctica that had formed after an asteroid struck the area. The size of the crater indicated that the asteroid was about 10 kilometers (6 miles) wide. Scientists believe that the asteroid hit Earth at a speed of about 30 km/second (19 mph).

Today, scientists know that asteroids can cause mass extinctions due to their sheer size. An object 10 kilometers wide would be equivalent to a 100-kilometer wide asteroid crashing into Earth. If an asteroid the size of Mount Everest crashed into Earth today, it would create a crater roughly the size of the state of Texas.

Regarding the asteroid theory of dinosaur extinction. There is also a popular hypothesis called Alvarez Hypothesis. 

The Alvarez Hypothesis states that the extinction of dinosaurs was caused by a meteorite collision 65 million years ago. This theory was first proposed by Luis Alvarez, who was a geologist at Berkeley University. He suggested that a meteorite hit Earth and killed off the dinosaurs.

The Alvarez Hypothetical event would have been devastating for the planet's ecosystem. Many scientists believe that the asteroid may have been responsible for the mass extinction of many species, including the dinosaurs.

Many people think that the dinosaur extinction was caused by climate change. However, the idea of a meteorite hitting the earth and causing mass extinctions is still a popular topic among some scientists.

1. What do we know about the Alvarez Hypothesis?

We know that the asteroid hit the earth at approximately 12 miles per second (19 km/s). We also know that the asteroid was roughly 10 meters across.

2. How did scientists determine the size of the asteroid?

Scientists determined the size of the asteroid using radiometric dating. Radiometric dating measures the amount of radioactive decay of certain elements over time. Scientists use these measurements to estimate how long ago something occurred. By measuring the amount of uranium-238 left in the dinosaur bones after they were formed. Scientists could calculate the age of the bone and therefore the age of the dinosaur.

3. Why does the Alvarez Hypothesis matter?

The Alvarez Hypothetical explains the extinction of the dinosaurs. If the asteroid had been smaller, then fewer species would have died out.

4. What evidence supports the Alvarez Hypothesis today?

Today, scientists still believe that the asteroid struck the earth and killed off many species of animals. There is no direct evidence supporting the Alvarez Hypothesis, however.

5. What evidence doesn't support the Alvarez Hypothesis now?

There is no evidence that proves that the asteroid didn't cause the extinction of the dinosaurs, but there is also no evidence that proves that it did.

The Alvarez Hypothetic Collision of Comets with the Earth

The idea behind the Alvarez Hypothesis is that comets were once much closer to the earth than they are now. As comets approached the earth, they would have been broken apart by the sun's gravity and spread out across the solar system. These comet fragments would then collide with asteroids and planets. And eventually colliding with our planet. The impact would have been catastrophic, causing widespread destruction and killing off many species.

This theory is based on evidence gathered from fossil records, geologic studies, and the study of meteorites. Evidence shows that there was a major extinction event around 65 million years ago. Scientists believe that this extinction event may have been caused by a massive asteroid hitting the earth. There are two types of evidence that supports this theory: fossils and meteorites. Fossils show us what animals looked like before the extinction event. While meteorites show us what the earth looked like before the extinction.

Fossil evidence

There are several different types of fossils that are associated with the extinction event. One type of fossil is called the stromatoporoid. Stromatoporoids are fossils that look like rocks but actually consist of soft-bodied organisms. Scientists discovered these fossils in the late 1800s. Another type of fossil is called trilobites. Trilobites are marine invertebrates that lived millions of years ago. Scientists found them in the Cambrian Period, which lasted from about 541 to 485 million years ago.

Meteorites

Another piece of evidence that supports the Alvarez Hypothesis comes from meteorites. Meteorites are pieces of space debris that fall to the earth. Scientists use meteorites to learn about the history of the solar system. They are able to determine how long ago certain events took place by studying the amount of radioactive material present in the meteorite.

Evidence supporting the Alvarez Hypothesis

Scientists believe that the extinction event that killed off the dinosaurs happened because of a massive asteroid striking the earth. In order to prove their point, scientists studied the composition of the meteorites that fell to the earth. They found that the meteorites contained high levels of iridium, which is a rare metal only found in meteorites. Iridium is a heavy metal that is not found in the earth's crust. Because of this, scientists concluded that the meteorites came from outer space.

In addition, scientists found that the meteorites had a chemical signature similar to the sedimentary layer of the ocean floor. This means that the meteorites originated from the same area where the sedimentary layer formed. Finally, scientists noticed that the meteorites contained a lot of carbon. Carbon is a non-radioactive element that is abundant in the Earth's atmosphere. This indicates that the meteorites originated near the surface of the earth.

How Heavy Was The Asteroid That Killed The Dinosaurs.

The asteroid that caused the extinction of dinosaurs was big. Scientists think it was about 10 kilometers wide! Imagine something that huge coming from space. This massive asteroid is called the Chicxulub impactor. This asteroid is named after the location in Mexico where the impact crater was found. When it hit Earth about 66 million years ago, it unleashed unimaginable energy. After striking it created a colossal crater and led to widespread changes in the environment. 

The impact is believed to have caused massive wildfires, a "nuclear winter" effect with darkness blocking sunlight, and devastating consequences for many life forms. So, it wasn't just heavy; it was the size of a small mountain. Its collision had a profound impact on the course of life on our planet.

How Long Did It Take For The Dinosaurs To Die After The Asteroid?

After the asteroid hit Earth, the dinosaurs didn't vanish immediately. The catastrophic event led to widespread changes. First, the impact caused fires and a "nuclear winter," blocking sunlight. This made the world very cold and dark. The dinosaurs faced challenges like loss of food and habitat. Some may have died quickly, while others struggled for weeks or months. Eventually, many dinosaurs couldn't survive, contributing to their extinction. It wasn't a sudden end but a series of difficult conditions that affected the dinosaurs over a period, leading to significant changes in the world they lived in.

Conclusion

Based on the evidence presented above. Scientists believe that the extinction event was caused by a massive meteorite collision with the Earth. The collision would have caused a huge explosion, sending shockwaves throughout the earth. The shockwaves would have destroyed any life that was on the ground. 

However, some scientists believe that the extinction was caused by volcanic activity instead. Volcanoes release ash and gases into the air, which could have created a thick cloud over the earth. This cloud could have blocked sunlight from reaching the earth's surface, leading to the death of many species. So, this was all about the asteroid theory of dinosaur extinction and Alvarez's hypothesis.