Regisztrálj tanárként
Storyboard Szöveg
- Csúszik: 1
- There's been a lot in the news lately about climate change. Droughts, wildfires, extreme rainfall, it's scary. But I don't know much about how they affect our lives and nature! Do you know?
- The major cause is believed to be the impact of an asteroid that fell on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It formed as the Chicxulub crater, about 200 km in diameter, which remains today. Incidentally, asteroids are small rocky bodies orbiting the sun. As a result of its impact, many creatures, including dinosaurs, became extinct. Specifically, all non-avian dinosaurs, all pterosaurs, and many marine reptiles became extinct. The enormous energy generated by the crash is estimated to have been equivalent to 10,000 times the energy of the world's nuclear weapons, and a large amount of dust particles and gases were released into the atmosphere.
- What, why was it advantageous for mammals to survive?
- Wow, so there were dinosaurs in the Cretaceous period. By the way, what kind of dinosaurs were there?
- Yes, of course! There's actually a lot we can learn from past climate change.
- During the Mesozoic Era, larger dinosaurs dominated most land habitats. On the other hand, most mammals of that era were about the size of a mouse to a shrew. This made it easier for smaller-bodied mammals to survive and gain the advantage. To put it simply, land animals that did not exceed 25 kilograms in weight did not become extinct.
- I see. What was the cause?
- Oh really! Tell me, for example, what past events have happened!
- Csúszik: 2
- I understand very well! Thank you. I have one question. Is current climate change as serious as past mass extinctions?
- There are many other evidences in the rock record. First, a huge crater, Chicxulub, 200 km in diameter, has been discovered buried under sediments near the Yucatan Peninsula. The second is the discovery of “shocked quartz,” a type of mineral formed under strong pressure. It is the crushed sand grains, or tektites, characteristic of meteorite impacts that have been found in the sediments related to the extinction.
- This extinction was a very important event, wasn't it? I learned about it for the first time. By the way, how did you know these things?
- Okay, so, do you know about the organism extinction event that occurred about 145.5 to 65.5 million years ago, during the Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era? This period of extinction is the best known of the various “Big Five” extinction events.
- Yes, climate change is seriously advancing. This extinction event shows that many organisms have not been able to adapt as a result of rapid climate change. This rapid climate change could have serious consequences for ecosystems and food chains. Even now, many organisms are near extinction or have become extinct as a result of extreme climate events that make it difficult for them to survive. In fact, a worldwide survey of 71,000 animal species shows that 48% of them are decreasing. Also, organisms are becoming extinct at a faster rate than at any point in modern history. The current extinction rate is up to 10,000 times higher than the average extinction rate in history. Almost entirely responsible for this increase is climate change caused by us humans.
- Yes, I agree. It is important to learn and know from past extinction events and take action to prevent the sixth extinction of the earth from coming. I would like to make more people around the world aware of this past mass extinction event and spread the word about the current critical situation.
- There is some evidence for this cause. First, in 1979, geologists discovered high concentrations of iridium in the thin clay layer separating the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods. This element is rare on Earth and common in meteorites and asteroids. This geological feature is formed when extraterrestrial objects hit the earth with a large force. So we can see that it is an asteroid fall.
- So the Mesozoic Era ended with the extinction of the dinosaurs. In other words, the Cretaceous was a period of important changes in the Earth's climate and ecosystems!
- It is possible because if current climate change continues, as it did in the past, many organisms will not be able to adapt and could become extinct. So the climate change we are currently experiencing is a dangerous sign, given the lessons learned from past extinction events. For example, droughts, wildfires, and extreme rainfall. People need to be aware of the danger because of these changes that are taking place. Faced with rapid changes that are difficult to adapt to, we may have more serious consequences for ourselves and organisms. Therefore, efforts must be made to reduce future risks through sustainable policies and actions. Efforts must also be made to maintain the balance of nature and prevent future extinctions by protecting biological diversity.
- Interesting. Are there any others? Please tell me more!
- I don't know! Please tell me more about it.
- That's right! After the Cretaceous, during the Paleogene, all kinds of creatures evolved, from bats to whales. So, if not for the extinction at the end of the Cretaceous, dinosaurs would still be alive today and mammals would have remained small. Humans might not even exist if this extinction had not occurred.
- Then, as we experience climate change today, could climate change be a future experience for us, a huge extinction?
- All right. First, let's talk about the Cretaceous period!
- Csúszik: 3
- The Cretaceous Period was known as a time when dinosaurs flourished. It was also comparatively warm, maintaining an environment suitable for the growth of plants and animals. Specifically, the climate during the mid-Cretaceous (about 100 million years ago) was so warm and humid that the earth is considered a greenhouse. Because it was a very active volcanism and high rainfall rates. As a result, there were no ice sheets, sea levels were up to 200 meters higher than today, most of the continents were underwater, and inland lakes and oceans were formed. In the latter period, temperatures dropped, and drying gradually progressed. The continents also changed. By 200 million years ago, the giant supercontinent Pangaea began to break up and evolve into its present continental structure. By the end of the Cretaceous, the continents were much closer to their present shape.
Több mint 40 millió storyboard készült
Nincs Letöltés, Nincs Hitelkártya és Nincs Szükség Bejelentkezésre a Kipróbáláshoz!
