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Ignition of global wildfires at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundaryThe recent discovery of an apparently global soot layer at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary indicates that global wildfires were somehow ignited by the impact of a comet or asteroid. It is shown here that the thermal radiation produced by the ballistic reentry of ejecta condensed from the vapor plume of the impact could have increased the global radiation flux by factors of 50 to 150 times the solar input for periods ranging from one to several hours. This great increase in thermal radiation may have been responsible for the ignition of global wildfires, as well as having deleterious effects on unprotected animal life.
Document ID
19900035038
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Melosh, H. J.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Schneider, N. M.
(Arizona, University Tucson, United States)
Zahnle, K. J.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Latham, D.
(U.S. Forest Service Missoula, MT, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
January 18, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 343
ISSN: 0028-0836
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
90A22093
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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