Meteorite that killed the dinosaurs, "slabsided" Earth

Scientific managed to establish that the fall of meteorite 65 million years ago, which led to the appearance of the crater Chykshulub, pidsmazhylo "and not" burned " Earth. Article (pdf) scientists appeared in the journal Geology, and its brief cites New Scientist.

Meteorite fall has led to emissions of a large number of hot rocks. When this breed began to fall, it rozihrila atmosphere to about 260 degrees Celsius. Previously, scientists predicted that a large area heating lasted about 20 minutes, which led to ignition of trees and massive forest fires. As part of the new scientists were able to show that it is not.

Using computer modeling, geologists found that the first wave of falling debris acted as a shield that protects Earth's surface from thermal emission mass remaining. Calculations show that the high temperature in this case rested only a few minutes, and this time was not enough to ignite forests. Because of this, scientists said that falling meteorite is "burned" Earth and slightly "pidsmazhylo.

Indirectly confirmed by the results of research findings paleontologists. In particular, the absence of deposits at that time a sufficient number of ash, which could indicate a global fire. Besides the new results can explain how many species survived the fall - they hid in norah or in the water. If the high temperature would be kept longer, they would not save it.

The most likely cause of death of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago is falling to Earth, a huge meteorite. This hypothesis was supported by paleontologists in the 90's of last century, when the Yucatan Peninsula were able to identify Chykshulub crater formed by collapse of a large celestial body. Time falling meteorite (diameter probably was 10 kilometers) accurately coincided with the time of extinction of dinosaurs.

Tags: researchers,scientists