Scientists Confirm Second Asteroid Impact Alongside Dinosaur Extinction
A team of scientists has confirmed that a second asteroid, smaller than the one responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs, collided with Earth 66 million years ago, creating a significant crater off the coast of West Africa. This discovery sheds new light on the catastrophic events that contributed to the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period.
The smaller asteroid, which created the Nadir crater, was approximately 450 to 500 meters wide and struck the seabed at an estimated speed of 72,000 km/h, resulting in a violent impact that triggered a tsunami potentially reaching heights of 800 meters across the Atlantic Ocean. Dr. Uisdean Nicholson from Heriot-Watt University, who first discovered the Nadir crater in 2022, has now confirmed that the crater is a result of this ancient asteroid impact.
While researchers are still unable to determine whether the Nadir impact occurred before or after the collision that formed the 180 km-wide Chicxulub crater in Mexico—widely recognized as the event that ended the reign of the dinosaurs—they agree that both events happened around the same time.
As the Nadir asteroid entered Earth’s atmosphere, it would have generated a massive fireball, observable from a distance. “Imagine the asteroid was hitting Glasgow and you’re in Edinburgh, around 50 km away. The fireball would be about 24 times the size of the Sun in the sky—enough to set trees and plants on fire in Edinburgh,” Dr. Nicholson explained. This catastrophic event would have also produced a powerful air blast and seismic activity comparable to a magnitude 7 earthquake.
The study of the Nadir crater, which is well-preserved compared to other eroded craters, has provided a unique opportunity for scientists to examine the geological impact of such events. Utilizing high-resolution 3D data from the geophysical company TGS, researchers gained insights into the crater’s structure and formation.
Interestingly, it is rare for large asteroids to impact Earth in close succession. However, the reasons behind this dual impact remain unclear. The Nadir asteroid’s size is comparable to that of Bennu, an asteroid currently classified as one of the most hazardous objects orbiting near Earth. According to NASA, Bennu has a potential impact date of September 24, 2182, though the probability remains low at 1 in 2,700.
Dr. Nicholson expressed excitement about the findings, stating, “This is the first time that we’ve ever been able to see inside an impact crater like this—there are just 20 marine craters in the world, and none have been studied in detail like this.” This research not only enriches our understanding of past cataclysmic events but also highlights the ongoing importance of monitoring near-Earth objects today.
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