Why Did Dinosaurs Go Extinct? Explanation for Kids
A 10-kilometer asteroid and volcanoes darkened the sky 66 million years ago, ending 75 percent of species.
What killed the dinosaurs?
About 66 million years ago a 10-kilometer asteroid hit Mexico at 20 kilometers per second, releasing energy equal to 10 billion atomic bombs. Dust and sulfur blocked sunlight for months, dropping global temperatures by 10 degrees Celsius.
At the same time Indian volcanoes erupted for 500,000 years, pouring 1 million cubic kilometers of lava. Acid rain and darkness killed leaves first, then plant-eating dinosaurs weighing up to 8 tons starved within a few years.
Who survived and why?
About 75 percent of all species vanished, including every animal heavier than 25 kilograms on land. Small feathered birds survived because they ate seeds, needed only 200 grams of food daily, and could fly 100 kilometers to find shelter.
Mammals the size of shrews hid in burrows and ate insects through the dark months. With giants gone they grew fast, and within 10 million years whales reached 15 meters while forests regrew across 60 percent of land.
- Asteroid 10 kilometers hit 66 million years ago
- Temperature fell 10 degrees in months
- Volcanoes poured 1 million cubic kilometers lava
- 75 percent species died over 25 kilograms gone
- Birds survived on seeds mammals in burrows