The Cretaceous-Palaeogene Mass Extinction: What Do We Really Know?

Explore the Cretaceous-Palaeogene mass extinction event in this 45-minute Royal Tyrrell Museum Speaker Series talk. Delve into the latest scientific understanding of this pivotal moment in Earth's history, examining extinction patterns in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Investigate the fate of dinosaurs and other species, analyzing theories about their decline. Examine potential causes of the extinction, including sea level changes, volcanic activity, and the Chicxulub meteorite impact. Learn about the formation of the Chicxulub crater and its implications. Gain insights into the factors that contribute to mass extinctions and how life persevered in the aftermath of this cataclysmic event.

Intro
Extinction events through time
Big 5 Mass Extinction Events
Other than dinosaurs, what went extinct?
Extinction in the oceans
What do we know about extinction on land?
Why did dinosaurs go extinct?
Were dinosaurs already on their way out?
But what about just before the K-Pg boundary?
In search of a cause for the K-Pg extinction
Late Cretaceous event #1: Sea level fluctuations
Timing of Deccan volcanism - Classic View
Timing of Deccan volcanism - New View
Late Cretaceous event #4: Meteorite impact
But where is the crater???
How big was the Chicxulub meteorite?
How big is the Chicxulub Crater?
Badlands of Alberta, Canada
And Life goes on...
So what is the likely cause of the K-Pg extinction?
Mass extinction events occur when two factors coincide.