Open AccessAtmospheric pressure at the time of dinosaurs
Author(s) -
Octave Levenspiel
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
chemical industry and chemical engineering quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.189
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 2217-7434
pISSN - 1451-9372
DOI - 10.2298/ciceq0602116l
Subject(s) - wingspan , astrobiology , theoretical physics , aerodynamics , physics , environmental ethics , philosophy , mechanics
From bioenergetics, fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, we show that if the atmospheric pressure was higher at the time of the dinosaurs than it is today, we would be able to resolve a number of anomalies which puzzle scientists today. These concern how a giant pterosaur (quetzalcoatlus, with a 12-15 m wingspan) had enough power to fly; also, how a giant dinosaur (apatosaur, with a 12.5 m long neck) was able to pump blood up to its brain.
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