The End of the Dinosaurs: Chicxulub Crater and Mass Extinctions - Hardcover

Frankel, Charles

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521474477 ISBN 13: 9780521474474

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1999

Synopsis

The discovery of the giant Chicxulub impact crater, buried off the coast of Mexico, unveiled the solution to one of Earth's greatest mysteries--what killed the dinosaurs. Scientists uncovered physical evidence to explain the mass extinction that rocked the Earth 65 million years ago. Step-by-step, The End of the Dinosaurs: Chicxulub Crater and Mass Extinctions tells this great scientific detective story. Charles Frankel recounts the birth of the cosmic hypothesis, which holds that the crash of a meteor on the Earth's surface killed two-thirds of life and all the dinosaurs. He first provides a dramatic account of the impact and its aftermath. Frankel then goes on to detail the controversy that preceded the acceptance of the cosmic hypothesis, the search for the crater, its discovery and ongoing exploration, and the effect of the giant impact on the biosphere. In addition, he reviews other mass extinctions in the fossil record and the threat of asteroids and comets to our planet today. More than 70 photographs and diagrams enhance and help illustrate the material. Filled with drama and interesting science, The End of the Dinosaurs will readily appeal to both the general reader fascinated with the subject and the specialist always searching for more clues to this great mystery. Charles Frankel has written a number of articles on the earth sciences in books and magazines. His many books include Volcanoes of the Solar System (Cambridge University Press 1996).

About this title

Book Description:

Out of a clear blue sky a colossal comet slammed into Earth 65 million years ago. The cataclysm massacred 70% of all lifeforms on Earth, including the celebrated dinosaurs. The fossil relic of the Earth-shattering event today lies hidden under the Yucatan coast of Mexico. Charles Frankel tells of the brilliant intuitions, controversies, and gratifying discoveries that let to the discovery of the giant impact crater. His thrilling account reaches out both to the general reader and the student of the earth sciences.

Language Notes:

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0521474477
• ISBN 13: 9780521474474
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 236