Term Paper

TERM PAPER
There have been five major mass extinctions in Earth's history, collectively known as
the "Big Five." Understanding the causes and timelines of these events is crucial for
comprehending the speed and magnitude of species extinctions happening today.
The changing extinction rate, measured as the number of extinct families per million
years, reveals noticeable spikes during these five events. However, it is important to
note that even during normal periods, the background extinction rates were relatively
low, typically less than 5 families per million years.
The five major extinction events are as follows:
The first event, known as the End Ordovician

extinction, occurred 444 million years ago. The second
event, the Late Devonian extinction, happened 360
million years ago. The third event, the End Permian
extinction, took place 250 million years ago. The fourth
event, often mistaken as the cause of dinosaur
extinction, is the End Triassic extinction, which
occurred 200 million years ago. The fifth and most
well-known event, the End Cretaceous extinction,
happened 65 million years ago and is responsible for the
demise of the dinosaurs.
All of these "Big Five" extinctions were triggered by a combination of rapid and
dramatic climate changes, along with significant alterations in land and ocean
environments. These changes encompassed factors such as ocean acidification, acid
rain resulting from intense volcanic activity, and other shifts in environmental
composition. By studying these past events, we can gain insights into the speed and
scale of current species extinctions and the importance of addressing the underlying
causes of environmental change.
What is the connection between meteorites and climate change? Meteorite impacts
can cause tsunamis, earthquakes, and massive volcanic eruptions, among other
phenomena. For example, if a meteorite were to strike a volcano,
the release of greenhouse gases from the volcanic activity could
lead to significant climate fluctuations, including global warming
and ocean acidification, which can have harmful effects on marine
and terrestrial ecosystems. And f a large meteorite struck a
volcano, it could cause instant melting upon impact. This intense
heat would create an impact plume within the Earth’s mantle.
And because of that, many species can be affected. Actually, what

happened 66 million years ago was not really the dinosaurs dying
because of the impact of the meteorites, but because of the climate
change that occurred due to tons of ash spreading through the
atmosphere, covering the sun for years and making photosynthesis impossible, which
caused the extinction of plant and animal species (ugc.berkeley.edu, 2024).
Massive amounts of energy are released when a meteorite strikes
the surface of the Earth, potentially having an impact on the entire
planet as well as wreaking havoc in the immediate area. A number
of variables that affect the overall impact can be influenced by the
target area's composition, including the kind of rock, sediment, or
minerals that are present. The emission of gases and aerosols upon
impact is one area on which researchers have concentrated. When
exposed to the extreme heat and pressure created during an impact
event, different types of rocks may have different compositions,
which may cause the release of different gases and aerosols.
It’s a well-known story in our planet’s past: A giant space rock slams into Earth,
causing a catastrophe that ends in mass extinction. You might think that when it
comes to determining which hits will cause such widespread devastation, the size of
the incoming impactor is what matters. But new research suggests that something else
might matter more: The composition of the ground where that meteorite hits.Klesman,
A. (2023)
Most meteorites that have fallen to Earth end up disappearing without

becoming fossilized or leaving an impact crater for scientists to find. That
has made it virtually impossible for scientists to recover enough evidence to
back theories about how astronomical events have tied into Earth’s history.
These smaller impact events may cause gases and aerosols to be released into
the atmosphere, which may have long-term effects on ecosystems and climate
patterns. Scientists may be able to find links between meteorite impacts and changes
in Earth's biodiversity and climate by examining the geological evidence these events
left behind.
A huge asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs may not have been the only cosmic
event to cause mass extinctions or change Earth’s climate. Tiny minerals left over
from many smaller meteorites could provide the geological evidence needed to show
how rocks falling from the sky changed the course of life’s evolution on our planet
more than just once. Jeremy H.(2013)
Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2024, March 9). There have been five mass extinctions in
Earth’s history. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/mass-extinctions
British Geological Survey. (2021b, June 4). What causes the Earth’s climate to
change? - British Geological Survey.
https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discovering-geology/climate-change/what-causes-the-earths-
climate-to-change/
Klesman, A. (2023, May 18). When it comes to mass extinction, meteorite size doesn’t
matter. Astronomy Magazine. https://www.astronomy.com/science/when-it-comes-to-
mass-extinction-meteorite-size-doesnt-matter/
Meteorite minerals offer clues to Earth extinctions, climate change. (2013, September
16). NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/sciencemain/meteorite-minerals-offer-
clues-earth-extinctions-climate-change-8C11167396

Term Paper

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Term Paper

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Term Paper

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

TERM PAPER

The five major extinction events are as follows:

The first event, known as the End Ordovician

And because of that, many species can be affected. Actually, what

Most meteorites that have fallen to Earth end up disappearing without

You might also like