Two scientists have painted a vivid picture of what it might have been like to experience the meteorite impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Writing in the Conversation, Professor Michael Benton from the University of Bristol and Professor Monica Grady from the Open University detail the sequence of events that led to one of Earth's most catastrophic mass extinctions.
The First Signs of Impending Doom
The first indication that something was wrong would have been a new star visible in the sky for about a week before the impact. This was the asteroid approaching Earth, reflecting sunlight as it hurtled towards our planet. Upon its arrival, any living creatures near the impact site in what is now the Gulf of Mexico would have witnessed a blinding fireball, heard a crackling noise, and experienced a powerful sonic boom before being instantly incinerated.
Immediate Aftermath: Tsunamis and Firestorms
Within five minutes, mega-tsunamis reaching heights of 100 metres rolled across the Gulf of Mexico. Combined with extreme overheating, earthquakes, hurricanes, and widespread fires, these waves wiped out everything within a 1,200-mile (2,000-kilometre) radius. The devastation was immediate and total for life in that region.
Global Consequences: Darkness and Cold
Dinosaurs roaming forests on the opposite side of the world initially remained oblivious to the catastrophe. However, within an hour, dust from the impact had circled the planet, darkening the skies. Within a day, global temperatures began to plummet. By the end of the first week, the world had cooled by 5 degrees Celsius. A ferocious winter set in, lasting for more than a decade, which ultimately eliminated approximately 75% of all species on Earth.
Survivors and Lessons for Humanity
Our ancestors were among the lucky survivors of this extinction event, but the scientists warn that humanity's current reliance on burning carbon is setting the stage for a similar scale of planetary catastrophe. The parallels between the asteroid impact and modern climate change serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of life on Earth.
