The Sixth Extinction Chapter 4- Helen Neundorff

Some of the worst disasters in 2018

Women wearing mask to prevent pollution sickness

This chapter begins with the introduction of a town named Gubbio in Rome. Large amounts of limestone is found here, the same limestone that helped geologist Walter Alverez discover the first sign of evidence that a mass extinction had occurred in earth’s history, the asteroid collision responsible for the end of the dinosaurs, the end-Cretaceous period. Along with further study and analysis with his father Luis, they ultimately fleshed out how the event occurred.  Most scientists of their field opposed the father and son’s findings, however, material signifying an asteroid hit such as shocked quartz, excessive limestone, and iridium and clay were found to support them. It was also the same evidence that the duo was able to pair the end of the dinosaurs to when this asteroid hit, resulting in a mass extinction across the globe. They also addressed how wrong Lyell’s uniform beliefs were, and that it only seemed to be true because mass extinctions of the past often look protracted. Another important figure to determine this were the ammonites. Ammonites survived the meteor but change in environment and climate due to the hit eliminated them, but they were so well preserved and was able to help make the time frame for the pair. In page 90, Landman, a scientist Kolbert introduced, states “‘There’s nothing ammonites were doing wrong…. Their hatchlings would have been like plankton, which for all of their existence would have been terrific. What better way to get around and distribute the species? Yet here, in the end, it may well have been their undoing.’” Before the meteor struck, the ammonites were thriving and was suited well for their environment, however as things changed, they could not adapt to the changing environment, which led to their downfall. This connects to the theme that human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems. If humans keep on wasting resources and emitting more toxic gases than the earth can handle, our environment is likely to drastically change such as the ammonites had witnessed. And it very well may be our downfall as well; the only way to prevent this is to change to more sustainable means immediately. We are already seeing the side effects. Natural disasters have been sweeping and destroying towns everywhere in larger numbers and greater impacts. Disease related to pollution and toxic waste is being born with the young. We need to make the change, not wait to be forced to come to us.