Expert: Ralph Salier - 5/3/2006

Question
-when beginning the age of ice, before or after the event k-t?
-know the scientists as it was the approximated cause but of the age of ice?
-In the event k-t, was all the fauna that decayed and I conserve the marine fauna?
-It is certain about the dragoons in truth existed?
-what calculations use the scientists to determine if in truth some animals of I generate Pterosaur flew that so safe they are, that thus was?
-plants of the cretaceous period, as were their difference as far as their morphology with respect to those of today?
-As was the point in where key the meteorite?
-the clay layer which they relate to that event where not this distributed?


Answer
Kamil,

The last Ice Age began some 12 million years ago and came to an end just 12 thousand years ago.  During the last 12 million years, there were several "inter stadials" or remissions of the ice.  We may be in such an interstadial now as well.  There are some climatic causes of the ice ages and one may  be the interruption of the Gulf Stream with lower salinity waters.  This would occur if too much of the glaciers of Greenland would melt at one time.  This increase of fresh water would drop the salinity and disrupt the continous flow of waters around the world which would change the world weather patterns bringing extreem cold to the north and a new Ice Age.

The K-T boundry occured some 150million years ago.  The K-T boundry occured when a very large astoriod hit the earth which brought about the sudden death of the dinosaurs.  Or I should say those who were unable to regulate their own body temperature.  Birds, and some other reptilians did survive along with the mammels.

As for the survival of Dragons, No.  These mythical creatures did not survive but the myths are based on the bones of Dinosaurs found during man's early times.  

Your question about Pterosaur I was unable to interpret.  These creatures did fly but because they did not control their own body heat probably couldn't survive the extreem environmental conditions during the KT boundry time.

The KT boundry also impacted the plant life and many species did not survive the long cold/dark time.  However, some plants did such as the fern trees and norway pines.  These ancient trees survived in distant places like australia and New Zealand.

The Asteroid's crater is located off the coast of Mexico in the zone just north of the Mayan penninsula.  This entire area shows the stress fractures and green shock glass of a very large violent event.  There are others smaller craters along both the coast of Argentina and the East Coast of the US.  These  may all be part of the same event.   The KT boundry deposits are world wide and in some places (Central America) are several meters thick.  In places distant from the crater these deposists are only a few inches.  But  common in all of them is Iridium a very rare mineral but very abundant in the KT boundry.  This may be evidence that the Aseroid was rich in Iridium.

As noted, the KT boundry clay, containing the iridium is found all over the world unless it was eroded away.