NASA scientists indicated that a possible asteroid strike would trigger a dramatic end of the world. Nevertheless, they argued that most big near-Earth asteroids will pass right beyond the moon. Unfortunately, the smallest ones will travel very close to our planet, at an altitude lower than some satellites. If an asteroid, similar to the one which passed right near Earth on April 19, will ever collide with planet Earth, winds greater than 1,000 mph will affect the whole planet which powerful shock waves will deter us all.
- A new study developed by NASA researchers indicated that a possible asteroid strike would destroy everything.
- They estimated that shock waves and powerful winds would cause most deaths.
- However, they noted that the likelihood for our planet to be hit by an asteroid is almost impossible.
The new study was published on April 19. Scientists have analyzed seven different effects which are usually related to asteroid strikes. They have observed cratering, seismic shaking, wind blasts, tsunamis, flying detritus, pressure shock waves, and heat. Then, they tried to predict how dangerous these factors could be such that they could become deadly.
The conclusion was that the pressure shock waves and the winds would be the most terrible ones, wiping every living creature off this planet. Clemens Rumpf, the lead author of the study and also a researcher at the University of Southampton, UK, argued that these two deadly effect would make up for about 60% of all deaths. Shock waves occurring due to a spike in atmospheric pressure would destroy internal organs, and strong winds would deter all forests and powerfully throw human bodies.
Rumpf highlights the fact that the new study is the first one to analyze all seven factors fueled by an asteroid strike, estimating how the severe human loss could be. Land-based repercussions would be far more horrible and dangerous than cases in which asteroids landed in seas or oceans. Even if the impact might trigger a tsunami, the waves would most likely disperse before the asteroid reaches the surface of our planet.
Researchers estimated that tsunamis would account for approximately 20% deaths. The new study made use of computer models which implemented 50,000 artificial asteroids colliding onto the surface of the Earth. These potential asteroids measured from 49 to 1,312 feet across. Researchers only considered the imminent effect of such dangerous impacts.
Rumpf argued that massive asteroids were predicted to cause environmental modification which would last longer, like immediate sunlight dimming and dust deposits in the atmosphere. After developing all these theories, researchers stated that the possibility for an asteroid to hit the planet is extremely low. The research was published in the Geophysical Research Letters.
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