Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. Image 4 of 8. Artwork of the moment of impact as an asteroid collides with the Earth. This is the asteroid impac
Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. Image 4 of 8. Artwork of the moment of impact as an asteroid collides with the Earth. This is the asteroid impact that is thought to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. The collision took place around 65 million years ago, marking the end of the Cretaceous period and the beginning of the Tertiary period. The impact took place at sea, sending tsunamis (massive waves) around the globe, destroying coastal areas. Water vapour thrown into the atmosphere lowered global temperatures. Plant and then animal life began to die off. The dinosaurs never recovered, and mammals rose to become the dominant form of life. For the sequence, see images E402/173 to E402/180.
Size: 3510px × 2550px
Photo credit: © RICHARD BIZLEY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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