The discovery of megaripples under Louisian seabed reveals new clues of the impact of asteroids that kill the dinosaurs

The incredible consequences of the impact of Chicxulub asteroids, one of the most cataclysmic events in the history of the earth, develops under the Louisiana background. New research has discovered “megaripple” “, some imposing 52 feet high, which extend through the ocean bottom. These waves, formed by the tsunami catastrophic that followed the asteroid strike, are much larger and more widespread than scientists expected previously. The study, Posted in Land Letters and Planetary SciencesIt reveals the true scale of the destructive force of the tsunami. Using 3D vanguard seismic data, researchers provide an unprecedented vision of one of the most significant natural disasters of the Earth, which occurred 66 million years ago.

MEGARIPLE MAPEO: A look at the power of tsunami

The impact of Chicxulub asteroids, which is believed to annihilated the non -steri dinosaurs, also triggered a tsunami of mass proportions. A new investigation, directed by Gary Kinsland of the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, has discovered evidence of “megaripple” created by this deep tsunami under Louisian seabed. These megaripple, some of up to 52 feet and extend through 900 square miles, reveal the immense forces unleashed by the event. Initially, the team discovered these formations in 2021, focusing on a section of 77 square miles of the seabed, but the new study discovers waves far beyond that original area.

The study, which analyzed an extensive set of 3D seismic dataHe has opened new questions about the behavior of the tsunami that followed the impact. These mass waves provide a crucial vision of the tsunami movement and the interactions between the waves and the seabed. The patterns of the megaripples, some strongly asymmetric and others more varied, beginning light on the road and the impact of the tsunami. Kinsland said these waves provide essential data for Tsunami modeling, offering information on how Tsunami future events can behave. As he explained:

“Megaripple are different in the slope, in the breakdown of the shelf and above the shelf. This is an important information in the modeling of Tsunami, in the prediction of future Tsunami interactions with shelves and in the understanding of the tsunami chicxulub “.

Understand Megaripple formation

THE MEGARIPPLE They are not just ordinary sand formations; They are the product of an incredibly violent and devastating event. Unlike the typical waves formed by oceanic currents or regular waves, these waves were probably created by the intense forces of the Tsunami, which followed the impact of the asteroid. According to Kinsland, the formation of these waves was probably the result of a massive earthquake and the subsequent fluidization of sediments:

“The waves must be formed by deformation of the mass of the material”, Kinsland said. “An analogy is the waves formed in the process of making whipped cream, which produces waves that stop after being pushed into forms of undulation.”

This analogy is key to understanding the underlying mechanism behind the formation of these mass characteristics. The researchers propose that the violent waves caused by the impact of the asteroid probably caused the sediments of the seabed to become temporarily fluid, which allowed them to form in waves that remained in their place after the passage of the tsunami. However, as Kinsland pointed out, the exact process behind the formation of these megaripple remains an open question, and more research is needed to completely understand mechanics.

Impact on modern understanding and future preparation

While the study provides deep immersion in the ancient past, its implications extend to the present and the future as well. Understanding the dynamics of such a colossal tsunam gives researchers valuable data that can report modern Tsunami prediction models. This is especially important as asteroid monitoring programs continue to progress. According to Kinsland:

“We scratch asteroids now and we should be able to predict future impacts. Understanding the effects of world impact will help us prepare if we see one that we cannot divert. “

With advances in asteroid detection and prediction technology, scientists hope to anticipate future collisions, preparing humanity for possible catastrophic impacts. When studying events such as the impact of Chicxulub, which left a deep imprint on the geological history of the Earth, researchers can improve their understanding of the global consequences of such disasters. This knowledge is crucial not only to predict asteroid impacts but also to evaluate their possible effects on both the environment and life on earth.