The Younger Dryas was a period of abrupt climate change that occurred approximately 12,900 to 11,700 years ago. It was a relatively brief period of about 1,200 years, during which the Earth’s climate shifted from a relatively warm interglacial period to a much colder and drier climate, before returning to a warmer climate again. The Younger Dryas is named after a cold-tolerant wildflower called Dryas octopetala, which thrived in the cold conditions of that time.
During the Younger Dryas, the ocean levels were lower than they are today. This is because a significant portion of the Earth’s water was locked up in ice sheets and glaciers, which grew during this cold period. As a result, sea levels were approximately 100 meters (330 feet) lower than they are today, which meant that coastlines were in different locations compared to today.
The lower sea levels also exposed a land bridge between Asia and North America, known as Beringia, which allowed human and animal migrations between the two continents. The lower sea levels also exposed new coastlines and created new habitats for marine life, which adapted to the changing environment.
Woolly mammoths lived until the end of the Younger Dryas. They were one of the many large mammals that roamed the Earth during this time. The woolly mammoth was well adapted to the cold climate of the Younger Dryas, with a thick coat of fur and a layer of fat to insulate them from the cold.
Woolly mammoths were large and heavy animals, with males being significantly larger than females. On average, adult males stood about 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) tall at the shoulder and weighed between 6,800 to 8,000 kg (15,000 to 18,000 pounds), although some exceptionally large individuals may have weighed up to 12,000 kg (26,000 pounds).
Females were slightly smaller, standing about 2.7 meters (8.9 feet) tall at the shoulder and weighing between 3,000 to 4,500 kg (6,600 to 9,900 pounds).
The size and weight of woolly mammoths varied depending on the geographic location and the availability of food, as well as other factors such as age and sex. Nonetheless, woolly mammoths were one of the largest mammals of the Ice Age, and their impressive size and strength helped them to survive in some of the harshest environments on Earth.
Australia Comet Impact
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