Open AccessResearch Spotlight: New study casts doubt on evidence for Younger Dryas impact theory
Author(s) -
Ofori Leslie,
Tretkoff Ernie
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/eo091i034p00304-02
Subject(s) - younger dryas , geology , charcoal , comet , geochemistry , earth science , physical geography , paleontology , geography , glacial period , astrobiology , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry
A new study challenges a previous hypothesis that a comet explosion or impact about 12,900 years ago caused devastating fires over much of North America and Europe and triggered an abrupt global cold period known as the Younger Dryas. Proponents of the impact theory claim that carbonaceous spherules and nanodiamonds found in deposits from the Younger Dryas formed through intense heat following a comet impact. The new study, however, finds that the carbon spherules are actually fossilized balls of fungus, charcoal, and fecal pellets created by low‐intensity wildfires.