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(Solved): But for one small remnant population, mammoths went extinct during the Younger Dryas (12,90011,7 ...




But for one small remnant population, mammoths went extinct during the Younger Dryas \( (12,900-11,700 \) years ago), which w
But for one small remnant population, mammoths went extinct during the Younger Dryas years ago), which was: a period of rapid warming a period of rapid cooling an extensive drought a period of increased volcanic activity


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Answer : The correct answer is Option 2) a period of rapid cooling.

During the Younger Dryas period, which occurred approximately 12,900 to 11,700 years ago, the Earth experienced a sudden and intense cooling event. This period marked the end of the last glacial period and the transition to the current interglacial period known as the Holocene. The Younger Dryas was characterized by a rapid return to near-glacial conditions after a previous period of warming. It is believed to have been triggered by a disruption in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a key component of the global ocean circulation system. The weakening or shutdown of the AMOC led to a redistribution of heat, resulting in a cooling effect on the Northern Hemisphere. Mammoths, being adapted to the cold and harsh environments of the ice age, were unable to cope with the rapid cooling and the associated changes in vegetation and habitat. The decrease in temperature likely led to a decline in their food sources and overall environmental conditions, ultimately leading to their extinction in most parts of the world.


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