Secondary sources are ones that feed and are supplied by primary articles that have been written and published by a large variety of scientists and researchers. In the case of the secondary article Volcanoes killed with global warming, 200 million years ago, it has a primary source that has a very similar account and thesis of the data that has been researched. However both the primary and secondary articles differ in many ways, and these differences distinguish the primary source from being a scientific, evaluated, researched published article to the secondary source from being a scientific magazine/ website article.
Both articles explain how, through the evidence of carbon isotopes, underwater basalt eruptions cause gases (significantly carbon dioxide) to be released into the atmosphere, which then have led to mass extinctions in the past. The latest extinction was the Triassic period (200 million years ago) when carbon dioxide levels soared and volcanism caused an alarming climate change. This is an abstract idea of what both articles talk about. The differences in both are the presentations, references, terminology and simplicity.
The secondary article was found on the Scientific American, which has its own magazine, online articles and blogs. David Biello wrote it, with the understanding that an average person could comply and understand the intended thesis and material in the article. In other words this article is a simplistic condensation of the original primary source. With this in hand, Biello had limitations on what could be included in his article and what couldn’t be. Compared to the original article the secondary seems to be a child’s picture book, with the simple language and terminology that was used. However it is appropriate for the media and audience, as most average people would not understand the complexity of the primary article.
Due to the secondary article being on a web site its presentation differs from the primary. It doesn’t have graphs, and data tables that are referenced upon, because the secondary author did not actually make the findings and a web site article has a much broader audience therefore it must have limitations. Large limitations that secondary articles have are size and details compared to the primary. The primary journal article; (Compound-specific carbon isotopes from Earth’s largest flood basalt eruptions directly linked to the end-Triassic mass extinction) is 5 pages long. This is due to the amount of detail and time put into this journal article. The secondary article can’t include as much detail due to size and time restraints, which limits the amount of information in the article itself. Also, since the secondary author did not do the research, quotations from the original article must be made instead of referring to shown data, which limits the author to certain, basic quotations that readers will understand.
The primary article used in comparison in this blog (Compound-specific carbon isotopes from Earth’s largest flood basalt eruptions directly linked to the end- Triassic mass extinction) provides evidence of the Triassic mass extinction. Graphs, charts and diagrams involving carbon isotopes found in multiple locations are all used to provide evidence of this extinction. This article is a lot more thorough with explaining what was researched and referring to it throughout the text. This article accounts for more specific data and examples to provide sufficient evidence for the thesis being proven (title of article). Unlike the secondary article there are no limitations or restraints that the primary authors must take into consideration. This primary article strictly specifies on one topic, provides evidence, and proves that the thesis is indeed correct.
Unlike the secondary article, the primary article concerned itself mainly with carbon isotopes and what they represented in the multiple locations found (i.e. Hartford, Newark). The carbon isotopes were a direct link proving the rise in CO2 in the atmosphere that led to the mass extinction at the end of the Triassic era. This is a specific example and discusses it throughout the journal. However in the secondary article it briefly proposes multiple variables that could have led to the increase of CO2 that led to the extinction. Also the secondary article briefly explains what the implications are if Co2 levels rise and the relation it has to the present day “6th extinction”.
A specific example from the text of the primary article states: “The cause of the ETE has been inferred to be the eruption of the giant Central Atlantic magmatic province (CAMP).” In the secondary article this example was condensed and summarized to state: “When Pangaea finally brok up, some 200 million years ago, the result was a lot of heat. Specifically, volcanism, as enormous flows of basald burst to the surface”. The primary article is much more complex then the secondary due to the audience of the article. The scientific world evaluates and revolves around published journals that are detailed and accurate. The need for evidence, correct terminology, citations, reviews, methods, conclusions, discussions are all essential to publishing a journal article.
This image points out where camp is, and where Pangea stood 200 million years ago. The red dots show where data was collected to prove the thesis in the primary article. The article uses this image as a reference, but the secondary does not. This is again due to the complexity of the primary article compared to the secondary.
In conclusion the secondary and primary articles explore the mass extinction at the end of the Triassic era, and the methods of how it occurred. They are both articles, but have different medias, audiences and guidelines that defines the articles for what they are suppose to be. The secondary article is a condensed and limited version of the primary article. However this secondary serves a purpose just as the primary article does. The secondary article can be found via http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=volcanoes-killed-with-global-warmin-2010-03-23. The primary can be found via http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/03/15/1001706107.full.pdf+html.
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