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Exploring the Younger Dryas and Impact Proxies
Around 12,800-12,900 years ago, a significant climate shift known as the Younger Dryas occurred abruptly after a gradual warming trend. This event was marked by a six-meter sea level rise and is believed to be caused by impacts on the North American and European ice caps. Evidence for these impacts is found in iridium, nanodiamonds, platinum, and melt glass called trinitite spread over a vast area of Earth's surface. One theory suggests that a comet fragment exploded in the atmosphere, similar to the Tunguska event in 1908, caused by an object falling from the torrid meteor stream. The impact proxies are found in various sites worldwide, including Abu Herrera near Gobekli Tepe, covering over 50 million square kilometers. While there are some conflicting views, the evidence for these impact proxies remains compelling.