Another possible impact crater discovered on the coast of West Africa adds a new twist to the infamous extinction event
For clues, Nicholson examined the features beneath the seafloor between the two continents, collaborating with the commercial companies WesternGico and TGS for seismic data. The analysis tracked how seismic waves ricocheted underground to illuminate subterranean features. Almost immediately, Nicholson spotted something odd.
Nicholson reached out to other scientists, including Bray, to ask if they thought this could be an impact crater, and they all agreed: The feature consists of a depression surrounded by a rim with a prominent peak at its center, which is common among such craters. The collision would have unleashed the energy of 5,000 megatons of TNT, the team estimates, almost instantly vaporizing the water and layers of the seafloor below. Then a shockwave would have raced across the surface, causing once solid rock to flow like liquid. Within minutes, the seabed would have rebounded upward in a central peak and then collapsed back on itself.
But what the discovery means for our understanding of the events immediately following the Chicxulub impact and the end of the dinosaurs' reign remains uncertain. The energy released by the Nadir impact and its environmental consequences would have been dwarfed by the six-mile-wide Chicxulub asteroid’s collision with Earth and the global cataclysm that followed.
Argentina Últimas Noticias, Argentina Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Wind energy boom and golden eagles collide in the US WestCODY, Wyo. (AP) — The rush to build wind farms to combat climate change is colliding with preservation of one of the U.S. West’s most spectacular predators — the golden eagle — as the species teeters on the edge of decline.
Leer más »
West Nile virus found in 2 people, record number of mosquitoes in New York CityWest Nile virus has been detected in two people and a record number of mosquitoes in New York City, according to the NYC Health Department.
Leer más »
Chicago police holding gun turn-in on West Side SaturdayThere's a push to get guns of all kinds off the street in Chicago and there's money, on the line.
Leer más »
Chicago shooting; Boy, 6, critically injured when shot in West Woodlawn apartment: CPDA 6-year-old boy was critically injured when he was shot in the back in an apartment in West Woodlawn, Chicago police said.
Leer más »
5 shot near West Philadelphia rec center; 2 arrestedPhiladelphia police are investigating a shooting that injured five people outside of a rec center Tuesday night.
Leer más »
West Nile virus detected in 2 people in Brooklyn, Queens amid 'record number' of infected mosquitoesVirus activity has been steadily rising citywide with more than 1,000 positive mosquito pools detected — the highest number ever recorded — compared to 779 at this point last year.
Leer más »