The asteroid that is widely believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs is the Chicxulub impactor.
This massive space rock, estimated to have been between 10 and 15 kilometers (6 to 9 miles) in diameter, struck the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico approximately 66 million years ago. The impact created the Chicxulub crater, which is over 180 kilometers (110 miles) wide.
The collision had catastrophic consequences for the planet. The impact would have instantly vaporized everything nearby, triggered massive earthquakes and tsunamis, and ejected vast amounts of dust, debris, and sulfur into the atmosphere.
Here's a breakdown of the events following the impact:
- Initial Destruction: The immediate impact would have caused widespread devastation, including wildfires and intense heat radiation.
- Atmospheric Effects: The massive amounts of dust and sulfur released into the atmosphere would have blocked sunlight, leading to a global winter that may have lasted for years. This would have disrupted plant growth and food chains.
- Long-Term Climate Change: The reduced sunlight and altered atmospheric composition would have led to long-term climate changes, making it difficult for many species to survive.
While other factors may have contributed to the extinction event, the Chicxulub impactor is considered the primary cause of the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, which wiped out approximately 76% of plant and animal life on Earth, including the non-avian dinosaurs.
