ENGLISH

Evolutionary Catastrophes: The Science of Mass Extinction

By Vincent Courtillot

Book information

Year
1999
ISBN
0521583926, 9780521583923, 9780511010163
LCC
QE506 .C7513 1999
Open Library ID
OL371372M
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
2 MB (2541674 bytes)
Pages
188\188
Time added
2011-06-04 13:46:07

Description

Why did the dinosaurs and two-thirds of all living species vanish from the face of the Earth sixty-five million years ago? Throughout the history of life a small number of catastrophic events have caused mass extinction, and changed the path of evolution forever. Two main theories have emerged to account for these dramatic events: asteroid impact, and massive volcanic eruptions, both leading to nuclear-like winter. In recent years, the impact hypothesis has gained precedence, but Vincent Courtillot suggests that cataclysmic volcanic activity can be linked not only to the K-T mass extinction, but to most of the main mass extinction events in the history of the Earth. Courtillot's book debunks some of the myths surrounding one of the most controversial arguments in science. This story will fascinate everyone interested in the history of life and death on our planet.

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