Catastrophes, such as volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts, and climate change, can have a significant impact on the environment and the lifeforms that inhabit it. These events can cause widespread destruction and alter the conditions of the Earth, leading to mass extinctions and the emergence of new species. Catastrophes can thus play an important role in defining the intervals of Earth's history, as they can mark the beginning or end of a particular era or period. For example, the extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period is often attributed to an asteroid impact, which is considered a catastrophic event that marked the end of the Mesozoic era and the beginning of the Cenozoic era.