IMPACTS: Consequences

• 0.2-1km asteroid (bigger than Arizona crater maker):

  • Expect 1 per 10,000 to 100,000 years
  • Broil creatures within eyesight of atmospheric fireball
  • Fiery debris blasted into space, plummets back to Earth triggering huge fires
  • Skies darkened by soot/dust => block sunlight => winter lasting months
  • Formation of poisonous nitrous oxides => acid rain
  • CO2 released from vaporized rock => long-term global warming
  • Seismic shock => huge earthquakes
  • If hits water instead, raise 35-km high splash in 40 seconds; tsunamis over area size of Pacific Ocean

Notes: