Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

Comet showers as a cause of mass extinctions

Nature volume 329, pages 118–126 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

If at least some mass extinctions are caused by impacts, why do they extend over intervals of one to three million years and have a partly stepwise character? The solution may be provided by multiple cometary impacts. Astronomical, geological and palaeontological evidence is consistent with a causal connection between comet showers, clusters of impact events and stepwise mass extinctions, but it is too early to tell how pervasive this relationship may be.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wetherill, G. W. & Shoemaker, E. M. Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 190, 1–13 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hills, J. G. Astr. J. 86, 1730–1740 (1981).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Muller, R. A. in The Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Recent Developments (ed. Papagiannis, S.) 233–243 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Alvarez, L. W., Alvarez, W., Asaro, F. & Michel, H. V. Science 208, 1095–1108 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Orth, C. J. et al. Science 214, 1341–1343 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Alvarez, W., Alvarez, L. W., Asaro, F. & Michel, H. V. Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 190, 305–315 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Luck, J. M. & Turekian, K. K. Science 222, 613–615 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kastner, M., Asaro, F., Michel, H. V., Alvarez, W. & Alvarez, L. W. Science 226, 137–143 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Smit, J. & Klaver, G. Nature 292, 47–49 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Montanari, A. et al. Geology 11, 668 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Smit, J. & Kyte, F. T. Nature 310, 403–405 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Bohor, B. F., Foord, E. E., Modreski, P. J. & Triplehorn, D. M. Science 224, 867–869 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Izett, G. A. & Pillmore, C. L. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Prog. 17, 617 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bohor, B. F., Modreski, P. J., Foord, E. E. Lunar planet. Sci. Conf. Abstr. 16, 79 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wolbach, W. S., Lewis, R. S. & Anders, E. Science 230, 167–170 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jones, E. M. & Kodis, J. W. Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 190, 175–186 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mclean, D. M. Syllogeus 39, 143–144 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mclean, D. M. Eos 64, 245 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mclean, D. M. Cretac. Res. 6, 235–259 (1985).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Officer, C. B. & Drake, C. L. Science 219, 1383–1390 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Officer, C. B. & Drake, C. L. Science 227, 1161–1167 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Officer, C. B., Hallam, A., Drake, C. L. & Devine, J. D. Nature 326, 143–149 (1987).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Alvarez, W., Alvarez, L. W., Asaro, F. & Michel, H. V. Science 223, 1183–1186 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Alvarez, W. Eos 67, 653 (1986).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ngo, H. H., Wasserburg, G. J. & Glass, B. P. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 49, 1429–1485 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Glass, B. P., Burns, C. A., Crosbie, J. R. & DuBois, D. L. Proc. lunar planet. Sci. Conf. 16, D175 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Keller, G. et al. Meteoritics (in the press).

  28. Keller, G., D'Hondt, S. & Vallier, T. L. Science 221, 150–152 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. D'Hondt, S., Keller, G. & Stallart, R. S. Meteoritics (in the press).

  30. Glass, B. P. & Zwart, M. J. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 90, 595–602 (1979).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. Glass, B. P. & Crosbie, J. R. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 66, 471–476 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Keller, G. Mar. Micropaleont. 7, 463–486 (1983).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Keller, G. J. Paleont. 59, 882–903 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Keller, G., Mar. Micropaleont. 10, 267–293 (1986).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Alvarez, W., Asaro, F., Michel, H. V. & Alvarez, L. W. Science 216, 886–888 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Ganapathy, R. Science 216, 885–886 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Glass, B. P., DuBois, D. L. & Ganapathy, R. J. Geophys. Res. 87, 425–428 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Sanfilippo, A., Reidel, W. R., Glass, B. P. & Kyte, F. T. Nature 314, 613–615 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Archibald, J. D. & Clemens, W. A. Am. Scient. 70, 377–385 (1982).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Alvarez, W. et al. Science 223, 1135–1141 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Fischer, A. G. & Arthur, M. A. Spec. Publs. Soc. econ. Paleont. Min. 25, 19–50 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  42. Raup, D. M. & Sepkoski, J. J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81, 801–805 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Davis, M., Hut, P. & Muller, R. A. Nature 308, 715–717 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. Whitmire, D. P. & Jackson, A. A. Nature 308, 713–715 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. Rampino, M. R. & Stothers, R. B. Nature 308, 709–712 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Muller, R. A. in The Galaxy and the Solar System (eds Smoluchowski, R., Bahcall, J. N. & Matthews, M.) 387–396 (Univ. Arizona Press, Tucson, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Kauffman, E. G. in Catastrophes and Earth History, The New Uniformitarianism (eds Berggren, W. A. & Van Couvering, J. A.) 151 (Princeton Univ. Press, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Kauffman, E. G. in Fine-Grained Deposits and Biofacies of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway: Evidence of Cyclic Sedimentary Processes (eds Pratt, L. M., Kauffman, E. G. & Zelt, F. B.) IV–XI (Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineralog., Tulsa, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Kauffman, E. G. in Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, Vol. 8 (ed. Walliser, O. H.) 279 (Springer, New York, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  50. Raup, D. M. Science 231, 1528–1533 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Raup, D. M. & Sepkoski, J. J. Science 231, 833–836 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Alvarez, W. & Muller, R. A. Nature 308, 718–720 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  53. Shoemaker, E. M. & Wolfe, R. F. Meteoritics 19, 313 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  54. Whitmire, D. P. & Matese, J. J. Nature 313, 36–38 (1986).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  55. Tremaine, S. D. in The Galaxy and the Solar System (eds Smolochowski, R., Bahcall, J. N. & Matthews, M.) 409–416 (Univ. Arizona Press, Tucson, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  56. Delsemme, A. H. in Comets (ed. Wilkening, L. L.) 85–130 (Univ. Arizona Press, Tucson, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  57. Palme, H. Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 190, 223–233 (1982).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Asaro, F. Syllogeus 39, 6–9 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  59. Heisler, J. & Tremaine, S. Icarus 65, 13–26 (1986).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  60. Weissman, P. R. Space Sci. Rev. 41, 299–349 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  61. Shoemaker, E. M. & Wolfe, R. F. Lunar planet Sci. 15, 780–781 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  62. Fernández, J. A. & Ip, W.-H. Icarus (submitted).

  63. Weissman, P. R. in Dynamics of the Solar System (ed. Duncombe, R. L.) 277–282 (Reicel, Dordrecht, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  64. Weissman, P. R. thesis, Univ. California Los Angeles (1978).

  65. Hut, P. Nature 311, 638–640 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  66. Hills, J. G. Nature 311, 636–638 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  67. Wetherill, G. W. Bull. Am. astr. Soc. 18, 763 (1986).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  68. Shoemaker, E. M. & Wolfe, R. F. in The Galaxy and the Solar System (eds Smoluchowski, R., Bahcall, J. N. & Matthews, M.) 338–386 (Univ. Arizona Press, Tucson, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  69. Glass, B. P. R. Swincki, M. B. & Zwart, P. A. Proc. lunar planet. Sci. Conf. 10, 2535 (1979).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  70. Storzer, D. & Wagner, G. A. Naturwissenschaften 67, 90–91 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Storzer, D., Jessberger, E. K., Klay, N. & Wagner, G. A. Meteorites 19, 317 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  72. Glass, B. P. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. (submitted).

  73. Flessa, K. W. & Jablonski, D. Paleobiology 9, 315–321 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  74. Berggren, W. A., Kent, D. V. & Flynn, J. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. spec. Pap. (in the press).

  75. Montanari, A. et al. Geology 13, 596–599 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Prinn, R. G. Eos 66, 813 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  77. Lewis, Z. S., Watkins, G. H., Hartman, H. & Prinn, R. G. Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 190, 215–221 (1982).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Hansen, T. A. Palaios (in the press).

  79. Birkeland, T. & Bromley, R. G. (eds) Cretacious-Tertiary Boundary Events: Symposium 1, The Maastrichtian and Danian of Denmark (Univ. Copenhagen, 1979).

  80. Christensen, W. K. & Birkeland, T. (eds) Cretacious-Tertiary Boundary Events: Symposium 2, Proceedings (Univ. Copenhagen, 1979).

  81. Mount, J. F., Margolis, S. V., Showers, W., Ward, P. & Doehne, E. Palaios 1, 87–92 (1986).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Hansen, T. A., Farrand, R., Montgomery, H. & Billman, H. in The Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary and Lower Tertiary of the Brazos River Valley (ed. Yancey, T. E.) 21–36 (Am. Assn. Pet. Geol., Texas, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  83. Mabesoone, J. M., Tinoco, I. M. & Coutinho, P. N. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 4, 161–185 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  84. Kauffman, E. G. & Johnson, C. C. Science (submitted)

  85. Kauffman, E. G. & Sohl, N. F. Verh. Naturf. Ges. Basel 84, 399–467 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  86. Liebau, A. Proc. Colloq. Eur. Micropalaeont. 13, 3–28 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  87. Liebau, A. Neues Jb. Geol. Palaeone. 157, 233–237 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  88. Wiedmann, J. Estud. Geol. 20, 107–148 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  89. Ward, P., Wiedmann, J. & Mount, J. F. Geology 14, 899–903 (1986).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  90. Heinberg, C. in Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary Events: Symposium 1, The Maastrichtian and Danian of Denmark (eds Birkelund, T. & Bromley, R. G.) 58 (Univ. Copenhagen, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  91. Birkelund, T. in Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary Events: Symposium 1, The Maastrichtian and Danian of Denmark (eds Birkelund, T. & Bromley, R. G.) 51–57 (Univ. Copenhagen, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  92. Smit, J. Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 190, 329–352 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  93. Perch-Nielsen, K., McKenzie, J., Quziang, H. Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 190, 353–371 (1982).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  94. Thierstein, H. Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 190, 385–399 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  95. Thierstein, H. Spec. Publs. Soc. econ. Paleont. Miner. 32, 355–394 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  96. Thierstein, H. R. & Okada, H. in Init. Rep. DSDP 43, 601–616 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  97. Herm, D. Deutsche Geol. Ges. Zeitschur. Jahrg. 15, 277–348 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  98. Surlyk, F. & Johannsen, M. D. Science 233, 1174–1177 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  99. Birkelund, T. & Hakansson, E. Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 190, 373–384 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  100. Boersma, A. & Shackleton, N. J. Init. Rep. DSDP 62, 513–526 (1981).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  101. Smit, J. & van der Kaars, S. Science 223, 1177–1179 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  102. Arthur, M. A. & Schlanger, S. O. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 63, 870–885 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  103. Elder, W. P. in Fine-Grained Deposits and Biofacies of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway: Evidence of Cyclic Sedimentary Processes (eds Pratt, L. M., Kauffman, E. G. & Zelt, F. B.) 157–169 (Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineralog., Tulsa, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  104. Elder, W. P. thesis, Univ. Colorado (1987).

  105. Kauffman, E. G. in Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Pt A (eds Robinson, R. A. & Teichert, C.) 418 (Geol. Soc. Am., Univ. Kansas Press, 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  106. Pratt, L. M. in Fine-Grained Deposits and Biofacies of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway: Evidence of Cyclic Sedimentary Processes (eds Pratt, L. M., Kauffman, E. G. & Zelt, F. B.) 38 (Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineralog., Tulsa, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  107. Kauffman, E. G. Geol. Ass. Can. spec. Pap. 27, 273–306 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  108. Kauffman, E. G. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Progm. 16, 555 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  109. Kauffman, E. G. & Hansen, T. Eos 66, 46; 813 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  110. Grieve, R. A. F. Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 190, 25–37 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  111. Leckie, R. M. in Fine-Grained Deposits and Biofacies of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway: Evidence of Cyclic Sedimentary Processes; (eds Pratt, L. M., Kauffman, E. G. & Zelt, F. B.) 139–150 (Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineralog., Tulsa, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  112. Eicher, D. L. & Diner, R. in Fine-Grained Deposits and Biofacies of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway: Evidence of Cyclic Sedimentary Processes (eds Pratt, L. M., Kauffman, E. G. & Zelt, F. B.) 60–71 (Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineralog., Tulsa, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  113. Koch, C. F. thesis, George Washington Univ. (1977).

  114. Koch, C. F. Paleobiology 6, 184–192 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  115. Cobban, W. A. & Scott, G. R. Prof. Pap. U.S. geol. Surv. 645, 108 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  116. Birkelund, T. et al. Bull. geol. Soc. Danm. 33, 1–108 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  117. Watkins, D. K. in Fine-Grained Deposits and Biofacies of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway: Evidence of Cyclic Sedimentary Processes (eds Pratt, L. M., Kaufmann, E. G. & Zelt, F. B.) 151–156 (Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineralog., Tulsa, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  118. Gentner, W., Kirsten, T., Storzer, D. & Wagner, G. A. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 20, 204–210 (1973).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  119. McDougall, I. & Lovering, J. F. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 33, 1057–1070 (1969).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  120. Storzer, D. & Wagner, G. A. Meteoritics 14, 541–542 (1979).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  121. Storzer, D. & Wagner, G. A. Meteoritics 12, 368–369 (1977).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  122. Storzer, D. Meteoritics 20, 765–766 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  123. Cobban, W. A. in Fine-grained Deposits and Biofacies of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway: Evidence of Cyclic Sedimentary Processes (eds Pratt, L. M., Kauffman, E. G. & Zelt, F. B.) 135–138 (Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineralog., Tulsa, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540, USA

    Piet Hut

  2. Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of California, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA

    Walter Alvarez

  3. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80309, USA

    William P. Elder & Erle G. Kauffman

  4. Department of Geology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, 98225, USA

    Thor Hansen

  5. Department of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540, USA

    Gerta Keller

  6. Branch of Astrogeology, US Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86001, USA

    Eugene M. Shoemaker

  7. Earth and Space Sciences Division, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, 91109, USA

    Paul R. Weissman

Authors
  1. Piet Hut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Walter Alvarez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. William P. Elder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Thor Hansen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Erle G. Kauffman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Gerta Keller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Eugene M. Shoemaker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Paul R. Weissman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hut, P., Alvarez, W., Elder, W. et al. Comet showers as a cause of mass extinctions. Nature 329, 118–126 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/329118a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/329118a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing