A 2007 hypothesis by Firestone et al. suggests an extraterrestrial impact triggered Younger Dryas events, controversial but gaining parallels with how asteroid impact causing dinosaur extinction was eventually accepted after the Chicxulub crater's identification in 1991. Climate shifts at the last ice age's end happened extremely fast. The Younger Dryas occurred roughly 12,900 years ago—over twice the distance back to the beginning of civilization.
Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis and Climate Change Relevance
Key facts
- 2007 hypothesis proposed Younger Dryas events were triggered by extraterrestrial impact
- This remains controversial
- Asteroid impact causing dinosaur extinction was eventually accepted after crater discovery in 1990s
- 66 million years ago no humans were present - Younger Dryas involves recent human history
- Younger Dryas occurs roughly twice the distance back to beginning of civilization (5-6,000 years ago)
- Climate changes at end of last ice age happened extremely fast
- Changes were much greater than anything observed in last few centuries
- Claims that current climate change is unprecedented are challenged by geological evidence
Sources
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