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.

  • Article
  • Published:

A theory of terrestrial catastrophism

Nature volume 282, pages 455–459 (1979)Cite this article

Abstract

The time sequence of terrestrial catastrophes and other Solar System phenomena is apparently stochastic but with an underlying galactic modulation. A mechanism is proposed involving the capture of planetesimals as the Sun passes through spiral arms.

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. Clube, S. V. M. Vistas Astr. 22, 77–118 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Clube, S. V. M. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 137, 189–203 (1967).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Öpik, E. J. The Planet Earth (ed. Bates, D. R.) 164–194 (Pergamon, New York, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hartmann, W. K. Scient. Am. 236, 84–99 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Lindsay, J. F. & Srnka, L. J. Nature 257, 776–777 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wetherill, G. Proc. lun. Sci. Conf. 6, 1539–1561 (1975).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Talbot, R. J. & Newman, M. J. Astrophys. J. Suppl. 34, 295–308 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Öpik, E. J. IAU Symp. 523–574 (Liège, 1965).

  9. Safronov, V. S. in Comets, Asteroids, Meteorites (ed. Delsemme, A. H.) 483–484 (The University of Toledo, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Grieve, R. A. F. & Dence, M. R. Icarus 38, 230–242 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hartmann, W. K. Icarus 13, 299–301 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Russell, H. N., Dugan, R. S. & Stewart, J. Q. Astronomy, 446 (Ginn, New York, 1945).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Fernandez, J. A. Icarus 34, 173–181 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wetherill, G. W. Icarus 37, 96–112 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Laplace, P. Sur les Cometes, Connaissance des Temps (1806).

  16. Sekanina, Z. Icarus 27, 123–133 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Oort, J. H. Bull. Astr. Inst. Neth. 11, 91–110 (1950).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kresak, L'. & Pittich, E. M. Bull. astr. Inst. Csl. 26, 299–309 (1978).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Oja, H. Ast. Astrophys. 43, 317–319 (1975).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Radzievskii, V. V. & Tomanov, V. P. Astr. Zh. 54, 388–397 (1977).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Yabushita, S. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 187, 445–462 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Greenberg, J. M. Astrophys. J. 189, L81–85 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Krat, V. A. Problems of Cosmology Vol. 1, 34 (Academy of Science, Moscow, 1952).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Heordt, Gp. Astrophys. Space Sci. 45, 353–367 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Larson, R. B. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 184, 69–85 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Napier, W. M. & Dodd, R. J. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 166, 469–489 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Bok, B. J. The Moon and the Planets 19, 153–155 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Martin, R. N. & Bennett, A. M. Astrophys. J. Suppl. 36, 1–51 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Burton, W. B. & Gordon, M. A. Astrophys. J. 207, L189–193 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Thaddeus, P. IAU Symp. 75, 37–54 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Wickramasinghe, N. C., Kahn, F. D. & Mezger, P. G. Interstellar Matter, 266 (Geneva Observatory, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Wesson, P. S. Astrophys. Space Sci. 23, 227–255 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. McCrea, W. H. Observatory 95, 239–255 (1975).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Bailey, M. E. & Clube, S. V. M. Nature 275, 278–282 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Ozernoy, L. M. & Usov, V. V. Astrophys. Space Sci. 13, 3–35 (1971); 25, 149–194 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. McCord, T. B. Astr. J. 71, 585–590 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Trafton, L. Astrophys, J. 193, 477–480 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Sinclair, A. T. Vistas Astr. 22, 133–140 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. Struve, O. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 13, 22 (1852).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Vsekhsvyatsy, S. K. Astr. Zh. 39, 290–302 (1962).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Cook, A. F. & Franklin, F. A. Smithson. Contr. Astrophys. 2, 377–383 (1958).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Allan, R. R. Astr. J. 74, 497–506 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. Sinclair, A. T. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 160, 169–187 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. Szebehely, V. Celest. Mech. 18, 383–389 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. Byl, J. & Ovenden, M. W. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 173, 579–584 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Öpik, E. J. Interplanetary Encounters (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Heppenheimer, T. A. Icarus 24, 172–180 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. Heppenheimer, T. A. & Porco, C. Icarus 30, 385–401 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. Singer, S. F. in Comets, Asteroids, Meteorites (ed. A. H. Delsemme) 109–117 (The University of Toledo, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  50. Heppenheimer, T. A. The Origin of the Solar System (ed. S. Dermott) (Wiley, New York, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  51. Whipple, F. L., Lecar, M. & Franklin, F. A. in On the Origin of the Solar System (ed. Reeves, H.) 312–319 (CNRS, Paris 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  52. Safronov, V. S. Evolution of the Protoplanetary Cloud and Formation of the Earth and Planets, 25–27 (Israel Program for Scientific Translation, Jerusalem, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  53. Hughes, D. W. Nature 270, 385–386 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  54. Oikawa, S. & Everhart, E. Astr. J. 84, 134–139 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  55. Öpik, E. J. Interplanetary Encounters, 81 (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  56. Everhart, E. Astr. J. 78, 329–337 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  57. Everhart, E. Astrophys. Lett. 10, 131–135 (1972).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  58. Oort, J. H. The Solar System (eds Middlehurst, B. M. & Kuiper, G. P.) Vol. 4, 665–673 (University of Chicago, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  59. Croft, S. K. Impact and Explosion Cratering (eds Roddy, D. J. et al.) 1279–1296 (Pergamon, New York, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  60. Rehfuss, D. E., Michael, D., Anselmo, J. C. & Kincheloe, N. K. Impact and Explosion Cratering (eds. Roddy, D. J. et al.) 1123–1132 (Pergamon, New York, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  61. Zotkin, I. T. & Tsikulin, M. A. Sov. Phys. Dokl. 11, 183 (1966).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  62. Glasstone, S. & Dolan, P. J. The Effects of Nuclear Weapons 3rd edn, 559 (U.S. Government Printing Office, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  63. Russell, D. A. Cretaceous–Tertiary Extinctions and Possible Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Causes (eds The K-Tec group) 11–23 (National Museums of Canada, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  64. Hoyle, F. & Wickramasinghe, C. Astrophys. Space Sci. 53, 523–526 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  65. Lamb, H. H. Climate: Present, Past and Future Vol 2, Part II (Methuen, London, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  66. Viewing, D. R. J. & Horswell, C. J. J. Br. interplanet. Soc. 31, 209–216 (1978).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  67. Ruderman, M. A. Science 184, 1079–1081 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. McLaren, D. J. J. Palaeontol. 44, 801–815 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  69. Boucot, A. J. Evolution and Extinction Rate Controls, 122–129 (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  70. Cutbill, J. L. & Funnell, B. M. in The Fossil Record (eds Harland, W. B. et al.) 791–820 (Geol. Soc., London, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  71. Whyte, M. A. Nature 267, 679–682 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  72. Beloussov, V. V. Basic Problems in Geotectonics (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1962).

    Google Scholar 

  73. Urey, H. C. Nature 242, 32–33 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  74. Delsemme, A. H. in Comets, Asteroids, Meteorites (Delsamme, A. H.). 3–13 (The University of Toledo, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  75. Komar, P. D. Icarus 37, 156–181 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  76. Ben-Menahen, A. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 11, 1–35 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  77. Gaskell, T. F. Physics of the Earth, 165 (Smeets, Weert, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  78. Ruddiman, W. F. & McIntyre, A. Science 204, 171–173 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  79. Brown, J. C. & Hughes, D. W. Nature 268, 512–514 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Russell, D. A. A. Rev. Earth planet. Sci. 7, 163–182 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh, UK

    W. M. Napier & S. V. M. Clube

Authors
  1. W. M. Napier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. V. M. Clube
    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

Napier, W., Clube, S. A theory of terrestrial catastrophism. Nature 282, 455–459 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/282455a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/282455a0

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