A groundbreaking study conducted by scientists from Dartmouth University has challenged the long-held belief that the extinction of dinosaurs was caused by the Chicxulub meteor impact. Using a simulation that analyzed over 300,000 possible scenarios, the researchers discovered that a mega-volcano eruption known as the Deccan Traps was the true culprit. These volcanic eruptions emitted massive amounts of climate-altering gases over nearly a million years, leading to climate change and toxic gas levels that ultimately drove the dinosaurs to extinction.
The Deccan Traps, located in India, released an estimated 10.4 trillion tons of carbon dioxide and 9.3 trillion tons of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. To determine the accuracy of the simulation, the scientists fed geological and climate data from deep-sea core samples into their computer model. By analyzing the tiny fossilized shells of foraminifera, microscopic creatures that lived 67 to 65 million years ago, they were able to estimate ancient global temperatures. This independent study provided the first estimation of volatile emissions based on environmental evidence.
By using the “Long-term Ocean-atmosphere-Sediment Carbon cycle Reservoir” (LOSCAR) model, the researchers calculated the movement of carbon atoms over a million years before and after the extinction event. To eliminate bias and preconceived notions, the simulation was reversed in time using Bayesian Inversion, a statistical process. By running simulations in parallel using 128 computer processors and 512 cores, the researchers were able to significantly speed up the process.
Although some scientists remain unconvinced, the Dartmouth researchers stand by their findings, emphasizing that their model provides objective evidence without human bias. The model shows that the high levels of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emitted by the Deccan Traps were responsible for the mass extinction event, rather than the meteor impact. However, other factors such as the impact’s release of soot and dust that caused a prolonged winter still need to be considered.
Ultimately, the Dartmouth researchers serve as messengers, delivering the scientific insights generated by their computer model. Their study challenges previous assumptions and sheds new light on how the dinosaurs met their demise around 66 million years ago.
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