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Gerta Keller, Professor of Paleontology and Geology, Princeton University
Prof. Gerta Keller’s major research and discoveries ranged from climatic change and its effects on ocean anoxic events, polar warming, Deccan volcanism, comet showers, extraterrestrial impacts. the dinosaur mass extinction the age of Chixculub impact and the 6th mass extinction. Her research frequently challenged accepted scientific dogma and placed her at the center of acrimonious debates fighting for survival of truth-based evidence. All but the cause of the Chixculub impact were soon accepted by scientists and integrated into new research. After four decades, impact proponents stil fiercely defend the impact theory, deny contrary evidence and at best incorporate volcanism as ad hoc revision, proclaiming the impact triggered volcanism that caused the mass extinction.
Abstract
For the past 40 years the demise of the dinosaurs has been attributes to an asteroid impact on Yucatan, a theory that is imaginative, popular and even sexy. From the very beginning scientists who doubted this theory were threatened into silence or their careers destroyed by the main theory proponents. Thus began the Dinosaur wars in 1980 – and still continuing.
As in any war, there are two sides to the Dinosaur wars. The majority believes an asteroid hit Yucatan and instantaneously wiped out 75% of all life including the dinosaurs in a global firestorm and nuclear type winter. A small minority tested this theory and founf contrary evidence that supported Deccan volcanism in India that caused a rapid climate warming due to greenhouse gases (CO2) environmental stress acid rain and ocean acidification culminating in the mass extinctions. This lecture highlights the four decades of the Dinosaur wars, the increasing acceptance of volcanism’s catastrophic effects and likely cause of the mass extinction and the resulting ad hoc revision to accommodate the impact theory.
