Rapid short-term cooling following the Chicxulub impact at the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1319253111
• Publication Date: 2014-05-13T08:53:58Z
• Authors: Johan Vellekoop; Appy Sluijs; Jan Smit; Stefan Schouten; Johan W. H. Weijers; Jaap S. Sinninghe...; Henk Brinkhuis
• Keywords: Paleogene; Global cooling; Ozone Depletion

Significance Here, for the first time (to our knowledge), we are able to demonstrate unambiguously that impact at Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary (K–Pg, ∼66 Mya) was followed by a so-called “impact winter.” This winter result of injection large amounts dust and aerosols into stratosphere significantly reduced incoming solar radiation decades. Therefore, this phase will have been key contributory element in extinctions many biological clades, including dinosaurs. The K–Pg presents unique event Earth history because it caused global change an unparalleled rate. detailed portrayal environmental consequences aftermath aids understanding truly rapid climate change.