Dust and smoke blown up into the Earth's atmosphere from the massive impact of an asteroid 65 million years ago
A) removed most of the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere by oxidation
B) rapidly escaped into space, having very little effect on the Earth's climate
C) blocked sunlight, causing global temperatures to fall on the Earth and subsequently shutting down photosynthesis for up to a year
D) trapped heat in the Earth's atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dust and smoke blocked sunlight, causing global temperatures to fall on the Earth and subsequently shutting down photosynthesis for up to a year. This is known as the "impact winter" theory and is widely accepted as the cause for the mass extinction of the dinosaurs. The other answer choices are not accurate descriptions of the impact's effects on the Earth's atmosphere and climate.

Dust and Smoke Blown Up into the Earth's Atmosphere from the Massive