End-Cretaceous Extinction Flashcards
1
Q
Q: What event has strong evidence supporting it as a cause of the end-Cretaceous extinction?
A
A: A meteor impact, supported by findings of the Chicxulub crater and iridium deposits of the right age.
2
Q
Q: What other evidence suggests climate change as a cause?
A
A: Large volcanic eruptions at the end-Cretaceous formed the Deccan Traps, releasing CO₂ and potentially altering the climate.
3
Q
Q: Why must the cause of dinosaur extinction also account for other animals?
A
A: The end-Cretaceous extinction affected many species, so the explanation must apply broadly to all extinctions and survivals during that event.
