Scientists discover a colossal crater of underwater impact three times the size of the Grand Canyon

In an extraordinary advance, scientists have discovered a Massive submarine crater buried under the waters of the Chesapeake Bay that is Three times the size of the Grand Canyon. This Old Impact Cratercreated by an asteroid that hit the ocean off the east coast of North America around 35 million years agoIt provides new ideas about the violent forces that shape the surface of the earth. The discovery of the crater, which was confirmed in the early 1990s Through drilling, it adds to our understanding of how catastrophic events, such as asteroid impacts, have influenced the geological history of the earth and its biological evolution.

The impact of the asteroid not only left a massive crater, but also caused generalized devastation, including mass fires, powerful earthquakesand a tsunami that remodeled the landscape of what is now Virginia and Maryland. The crater created by these asteroid impact measures approximately 25 miles in diameterwhich makes it one of the largest impact craters in the United States. As scientists continue to study this remarkable discovery, they are rebuilding the incredible forces at stake and their lasting effects on the planet.

A surprising discovery under Chesapeake Bay

The massive Submarine crater Formed by the asteroid impact there is an amazing reminder of the destructive power that shapes the geological history of the Earth. Covered by sediment For millions of years, the crater remained hidden until it was discovered in the early 1990s through scientific drilling. This discovery was a crucial moment for the scientific community, since it revealed the scale of the old event that had shaped the East coast from North America. In 25 miles in diameterThis crater is significantly larger than the best known impact craters on Earth and serves as a key evidence to understand the dynamics of asteroid attacks.

The study of this crater has provided scientists with new tools to investigate the effects of asteroid impacts on the Earth surfaceGreening light on how such events can cause generalized destruction and leave lasting marks in the landscape of the planet. Scientists have also been able to analyze the debris expelled by the impact, which extended in an area of ​​more than 4 million square miles“A region almost.” Ten times the size of Texas—You join the timeline and the intensity of the event.

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The location of the crater in Chesapeake Bay. It is now completely covered by younger sediments, but was discovered in the early 1990s for marine geophysical surveys and subsequent drilling. (Credit: Powars et al. 2015, Christoph Kersten / Geomar)

The global impact and lasting effects

He Asteroid impact I did more than just creating a crater, triggered a series of global effects that had lasting consequences for the environment and climate of the earth. The collision sent debris to the atmosphere, including Tektitas—Saus natural glass formed from meteorite impacts and Circum crystalsthat underwent an intense shock. These Shock metamorphose minerals Serve as a key geological evidence of the impact force. The expelled debris formed the Tektite Splexes from North Americaapproximately 4 million square miles.

This dispersed material not only cooled quickly in contact with seawaterBut much of this was also established at the bottom of the ocean, preserving a detailed record of the event. The analysis of these materials, including the clash affected by the crash. Circum crystalsHe has given scientists crucial information about time and the intensity of the impact of asteroids. These crystals, which are about the thickness of human hair, were found in oceanic sediments 400 kilometers (250 miles) The northeast of the impact site, providing valuable clues about the shock pressures created during the collision.

The importance of going out with the event

To refine the understanding of the impact of the asteroid and its global effects, the researchers applied advanced Quotation techniques to the materials collected from the impact site. The team, led by Marc Biren of Arizona State Universityused Uranium-Thorium-helium dating Establish a more precise timeline for when the materials were expelled, as well as how they cooled and settled. These findings are critical not only to understand the moment of the event but also for the widest field of impact events studies, since they shed light on how similar tohe attacks could have affected the earth. Geological and biological history.

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