Researchers determined that layers of soil in sections of North America contained fossilized organic matter like fungus, fecal pellets, and charcoal.  This same material was thought to be caused by a period of abrupt and intense cold that occurred 12,800 years ago and is related to Younger Dryas. Scientists believe that Younger Dryas was triggered by an “impact event’ such as a meteor striking the Earth or exploding in space. The result was a massive firestorm that killed early North American inhabitants and most animals in addition to saturating the atmosphere with ash and dust.  That amount of residue reduced radiation and cooled the planet.  Geophyscial Research Letters reported that it is unlikely a meteor explosion could have generated the intense heat. In closing, we enjoyed an episode of snow on December 8th and a different snow-ice episode last week. In March, 1988, Myron L. Ace entered the Guinness Book of World Records by constructing a 63.5 foot snowman in Anchorage, Alaska.  Myron’s giant sculpture was finalized with the assistance of eight friends, one of whom was a skilled crane operator lifting 8-inch snow blocks to shape the snowman. Named “Super Frosty” it took three weeks to complete. Upon its completion, Myron's hometown was hit with a 70 m.p.h. dust storm that turned the masterpiece into “Super Brown Frosty.”