The Day the Mesozoic Died Video Flashcard

Front

What is the Mesozoic Era?

Back

The Mesozoic Era is known as the Age of Dinosaurs, lasting from about 252 to 66 million years ago.

Front

What significant event marks the end of the Mesozoic Era?

Back

The mass extinction event caused by an asteroid strike, leading to the extinction of many species, including dinosaurs.

Front

What is the KT boundary?

Back

The KT boundary is a geological marker that signifies the transition between the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, associated with the mass extinction event.

Front

What is iridium and why is it significant in the KT boundary?

Back

Iridium is a rare element found in higher concentrations in asteroids; its presence in the KT boundary supports the asteroid impact hypothesis.

Front

What is the asteroid strike hypothesis?

Back

The hypothesis that a large asteroid impact caused drastic environmental changes, leading to mass extinction.

Front

What evidence supports the asteroid strike hypothesis?

Back

The presence of iridium in the KT boundary and the discovery of the Chixulub crater.

Front

Where is the Chixulub crater located?

Back

The Chixulub crater is located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

Front

What was the initial scientific consensus about the cause of the mass extinction?

Back

Initially, the asteroid strike hypothesis was not widely accepted; other theories were considered.

Front

How did the asteroid impact affect the food chain?

Back

The impact caused massive fires, climate changes, and darkness, leading to the collapse of the food chain.

Front

What is a mass extinction event?

Back

A mass extinction event is a rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth, where a significant number of species go extinct in a relatively short period.