Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Here are details of the five worst mass extinctions in Earths history and their possible causes, according to paleobiologist Doug Erwin of the Smithsonian Institutions National Museum of Natural History. Erwin said estimates of extinction rates are from the late John J. Sepkoski at the University of Chicago:
Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction, about 65 million years ago, probably caused or aggravated by impact of several-mile-wide asteroid that created the Chicxulub crater now hidden on the Yucatan Peninsula and beneath the Gulf of Mexico. Some argue for other causes, including gradual climate change or flood-like volcanic eruptions of basalt lava from Indias Deccan Traps. The extinction killed 16 percent of marine families, 47 percent of marine genera (the classification above species) and 18 percent of land vertebrate families, including the dinosaurs.
End Triassic extinction, roughly 199 million to 214 million years ago, most likely caused by massive floods of lava erupting from the central Atlantic magmatic province -- an event that triggered the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. The volcanism may have led to deadly global warming. Rocks from the eruptions now are found in the eastern United States, eastern Brazil, North Africa and Spain. The death toll: 22 percent of marine families, 52 percent of marine genera. Vertebrate deaths are unclear.
Permian-Triassic extinction, about 251 million years ago. Many scientists suspect a comet or asteroid impact, although direct evidence has not been found. Others believe the cause was flood volcanism from the Siberian Traps and related loss of oxygen in the seas. Still others believe the impact triggered the volcanism and also may have done so during the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction. The Permian-Triassic catastrophe was Earths worst mass extinction, killing 95 percent of all species, 53 percent of marine families, 84 percent of marine genera and an estimated 70 percent of land species such as plants, insects and vertebrate animals.
Late Devonian extinction, about 364 million years ago, cause unknown. It killed 22 percent of marine families and 57 percent of marine genera. Erwin said little is known about land organisms at the time.
Ordovician-Silurian extinction, about 439 million years ago, caused by a drop in sea levels as glaciers formed, then by rising sea levels as glaciers melted. The toll: 25 percent of marine families and 60 percent of marine genera.
Have you ever thought of the sixth mass extinction on earth? Many believes is the shortage of water on earth. Something we always take it for granted. Give it a thought.
Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction, about 65 million years ago, probably caused or aggravated by impact of several-mile-wide asteroid that created the Chicxulub crater now hidden on the Yucatan Peninsula and beneath the Gulf of Mexico. Some argue for other causes, including gradual climate change or flood-like volcanic eruptions of basalt lava from Indias Deccan Traps. The extinction killed 16 percent of marine families, 47 percent of marine genera (the classification above species) and 18 percent of land vertebrate families, including the dinosaurs.
End Triassic extinction, roughly 199 million to 214 million years ago, most likely caused by massive floods of lava erupting from the central Atlantic magmatic province -- an event that triggered the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. The volcanism may have led to deadly global warming. Rocks from the eruptions now are found in the eastern United States, eastern Brazil, North Africa and Spain. The death toll: 22 percent of marine families, 52 percent of marine genera. Vertebrate deaths are unclear.
Permian-Triassic extinction, about 251 million years ago. Many scientists suspect a comet or asteroid impact, although direct evidence has not been found. Others believe the cause was flood volcanism from the Siberian Traps and related loss of oxygen in the seas. Still others believe the impact triggered the volcanism and also may have done so during the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction. The Permian-Triassic catastrophe was Earths worst mass extinction, killing 95 percent of all species, 53 percent of marine families, 84 percent of marine genera and an estimated 70 percent of land species such as plants, insects and vertebrate animals.
Late Devonian extinction, about 364 million years ago, cause unknown. It killed 22 percent of marine families and 57 percent of marine genera. Erwin said little is known about land organisms at the time.
Ordovician-Silurian extinction, about 439 million years ago, caused by a drop in sea levels as glaciers formed, then by rising sea levels as glaciers melted. The toll: 25 percent of marine families and 60 percent of marine genera.
Have you ever thought of the sixth mass extinction on earth? Many believes is the shortage of water on earth. Something we always take it for granted. Give it a thought.
kAkA.hUnTeR
Flow.
spoke at : 7/15/2009 11:33:00 AM
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The story is told about a farmer who went into an automobile dealership to buy a stripped-down model and ended up with all the bells and whistles. The $14,000 standard car turned into a $22,000 luxury vehicle. He loved all the extras, but frankly, he had exceeded his budget. A few months later he had a chance to at least partially balance the scale. The salesman who sold him the car showed up at his farm to buy a cow. After carefully looking the herd over, he made his choice and asked, “How much?”
The farmer pleasantly replied that the price was $395. The salesman was pleased and said he would take the cow. The farmer went into his shed, figured the details, came back out, and presented the salesman with the bill totaling $920.20. Needless thought you told me that the price was $395!” The farmer assured him that was the price of the standard cow, but this one came equipped with a two-tone genuine leather cowhide cover for an additional $95. There was an extra stomach built in to increase capacity and performance, which as $110. The attached flyswatter was $35, and at $15 each the four milk dispensers came to an extra $60. The colorful dual horns at $20 each came to $40, and the automatic fertilizer plant, guaranteed for life, was another $125, for a total of $465. The tax was $60.20, so the total bill was $920.20.
I am certain many of you, as you read this, feel a degree of empathy with the farmer. Maybe the smile you get from the story and the fact that you can share it with others will reduce some of the pain that goes, on occasion, with overspending your budget. Go ahead. Have a good laugh.
The farmer pleasantly replied that the price was $395. The salesman was pleased and said he would take the cow. The farmer went into his shed, figured the details, came back out, and presented the salesman with the bill totaling $920.20. Needless thought you told me that the price was $395!” The farmer assured him that was the price of the standard cow, but this one came equipped with a two-tone genuine leather cowhide cover for an additional $95. There was an extra stomach built in to increase capacity and performance, which as $110. The attached flyswatter was $35, and at $15 each the four milk dispensers came to an extra $60. The colorful dual horns at $20 each came to $40, and the automatic fertilizer plant, guaranteed for life, was another $125, for a total of $465. The tax was $60.20, so the total bill was $920.20.
I am certain many of you, as you read this, feel a degree of empathy with the farmer. Maybe the smile you get from the story and the fact that you can share it with others will reduce some of the pain that goes, on occasion, with overspending your budget. Go ahead. Have a good laugh.
kAkA_hUnTeR
You cannot light up the lives of others without brightening up your own.
spoke at : 7/11/2009 01:03:00 PM
Sunday, July 05, 2009
| You Communicate With Your Eyes |
 When you say, "I'll believe it when I see it" - you really mean it. For you, what you see is a lot more important than what you hear. You don't take someone's words at face value. You judge people by their facial expressions, body language, and appearance. You tend to be quiet, but when you talk, you tend to make eye contact and describe things in colorful detail. |
spoke at : 7/05/2009 01:20:00 PM
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Yesterday was the last day of the project work, which was also the last day with my team mates as well as the final presentation. I won't say that the presentation was bad but it wasn't good either.
Hmm I'm tired... Go to go sleep.
Hmm I'm tired... Go to go sleep.
kAkA.hUnTeR
One more module to go.
spoke at : 7/04/2009 04:23:00 PM
