How do the Deccan Traps provide information about Earth’s past and what geological processes resulted in their formation?
Saurabh SoniLearner
Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email.
Please briefly explain why you feel this question should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this answer should be reported.
Please briefly explain why you feel this user should be reported.
How do the Deccan Traps provide information about Earth’s past and what geological processes resulted in their formation?
Towards the end of the Mesozoic era, intensive volcanic activity flooded vast areas of Maharashtra and other parts of the Deccan with lava, known as the Deccan Traps. The volcanic rocks contain some thin fossiliferous sedimentary layers between the solidified lava flows which indicate that the lava flows were not continuous. The Deccan Traps are characterized by black soil, indicating the presence of igneous rocks. When the rocks were denuded over time, black soil formed. The volcanic activity resulted in two major events. The first one is the breakup of Gondwanaland and the second one is the uplift of the Himalayas out of Tethys Sea.
Deccan Traps offers insights into Earth’s history. The release of volcanic gases, especially sulfur dioxide, during the formation of the traps, likely played a significant role in contributing to climate change. An average drop in temperature of about 2°C (3.6°F) was recorded during this period. According to the scientists, the gases released during the formation of the Deccan Traps played a major role in the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event which is also known as the Cretaceous-Tertiary or K-T extinction. The Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event is a sudden mass extinction of three-quarters of the plant and animal species on Earth and occurred approximately 66 million years ago. The event led to the extinction of all non-avian dinosaurs. The sudden cooling due to sulfurous volcanic gases released by the formation of the traps and toxic gas emissions may have contributed significantly to the K-g mass extinction.
The Deccan Traps in India were formed around 66 million years ago due to huge volcanic eruptions. These eruptions happened because of a hotspot, which is a place where hot, melted rock (magma) rises from deep inside the Earth. As the Indian landmass moved over this hotspot, it caused a lot of lava to flow out.
These volcanic eruptions lasted for millions of years, creating many layers of hardened lava, called basalt. These layers look like steps, which is why they are called “traps” (from a Swedish word for stairs). Today, these layers cover an area of about 500,000 square kilometers.
The Deccan Traps are important because they show us how big volcanic eruptions can change the Earth. The eruptions released lots of gases like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, which likely changed the climate. Some scientists think these changes helped cause the extinction of the dinosaurs.
By studying the Deccan Traps, scientists learn about how volcanoes work and how the Earth’s surface moves. They also learn about how climate changes and big extinctions are connected. This helps us understand more about Earth’s history and how different processes shape our planet.
The Deccan Traps were formed through extensive volcanic activity that occurred around 66 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period. This geological phenomenon was driven by a mantle plume, which caused massive outpourings of basaltic lava over a relatively short geological timespan. The resulting lava flows covered large areas, creating one of the largest volcanic features on Earth. These basaltic layers, known as traps due to their step-like formations, provide critical insights into Earth’s history. They offer evidence of volcanic activity’s role in shaping the planet’s surface and contributing to mass extinction events, including the one that led to the demise of the dinosaurs. The Deccan Traps also help scientists understand the processes of plate tectonics, mantle dynamics, and the long-term impact of volcanic activity on climate change, as the released gases could have caused significant atmospheric alterations.