Question

Briefly describe how an impact could lead to a mass extinction.

a) The impact would cause volcanic eruptions, releasing toxic gases.
b) The impact would generate a nuclear explosion, killing all life.
c) The impact would create a "nuclear winter" effect, blocking sunlight.
d) The impact would directly crush all living organisms.

Answer 1

An impact leads to mass extinction by blocking sunlight and causing global climate change, which disrupts food chains and destroys habitats, rather than by directly crushing all life forms.

Step-by-step explanation:

An impact can lead to mass extinction through various catastrophic environmental changes. The debris ejected into the atmosphere during an impact can create a thick cloud that blocks sunlight, leading to a 'nuclear winter' effect. This would plunge the Earth into a period of cold and darkness, causing many sun-dependent plants to die and subsequently cutting off the food supply for herbivores, and onward up the food chain. Additionally, such impacts can trigger large-scale fires and cause the rain to become acidic, further destroying habitats and life forms. While such an impact does not generate a nuclear explosion as we understand it from human-made bombs, the effects can nonetheless be globally devastating and can lead to the extinction of many species.