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CHAPTER 3.6
CONCLUSION
Cosmic impacts have been a major and continuing part of Earth's history. Very
large impacts have created continents, as well as major mass extinctions.
Smaller, but significant impacts have led to minor mass extinctions and vast
local or regional damage.
The geological history of the earth is
usually told without much emphasis on these cosmic impacts that have created so
many of the Earth's features and have changed the evolutionary path of life on
the planet on a continuing basis. It is time for this to change.
The
study of cosmic impacts and their effects should be given primary attention
when studying and modeling the geological and evolutionary history of the
Earth.
Furthermore, we need to recognize the incredibly important role
that our modern society will play in the future environmental history of the
world … a role that will free the earth from the only two sure disasters
that would otherwise befall the planet without our help (cosmic impacts and
hotspot volcanism).
Without the continuously improving technology of a
robust modern society, the Earth is a disaster waiting to happen.
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