Mass extinctions may be a myth, claim scientists

[npetreley]

From the article, Mass Extinctions May Be A Myth, Claim Scientists, which might have been entitled, Scientists get one step closer to the truth

"During the Cretaceous period (146 to 65 million years ago), dominated by dinosaurs, there were periods of intense global warming which saw dramatic rises in sea levels so severe that the oceans flooded Europe, turning it into an archipelago of little islands. This forced shallow marine species and land animals to migrate from their usual habitats.

"Once the sea level dropped again these species migrated back with it, and the fossil record laid down in sedimentary rock during those periods of high sea level was largely destroyed over time by wind, rain and glacial erosion," continued Professor Gale.

"The interruption in the fossil record during these periods was caused by species migration and the loss of the fossil record of that migration, and not by a mass extinction."

Evidence of these "pseudoextinctions" can be seen in the fossil record...

So the fossil record might actually be the result of a flood? What a fascinating idea.

 

[Jerry Smith]

Well, technically?
No, that isn't what the article says. It says that the appearance of mass extinctions in certain geographical areas may not have been the result of actual mass extinction (as would be caused in a GLOBAL flood), but rather, they may have been "pseudo-extinctions" that were caused by erosion after a catastrophic rise in sea level. Note that the appearance of mass extinctions is inferred from the absence of fossils - not the presence of them.

 

[LiveFreeOrDie]

Originally posted by npetreley
So the fossil record might actually be the result of a flood? What a fascinating idea.

Um, no, I think it said exactly the opposite:

the fossil record laid down in sedimentary rock during those periods of high sea level was largely destroyed over time by wind, rain and glacial erosion

 

[chickenman]

So the fossil record might actually be the result of a flood? What a fascinating idea.

you'd have to explain why a flood deposits the fossils in such a strange manner, then you'd have to demonstrate that your explanation is even possible.

 

[Plan 9]

Being able to read the whole article would be helpful, Nick...

 

[npetreley]

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-01zp.html

 

[Plan 9]

Thanks again, Nick!!!