Without looking for it, a group of scientists came across a historic and impressive planetary find. An underwater crater approximately 8 kilometers wide caused by an asteroid that caused serious damage to our planet Earth, was recently discovered and it is presumed that the entire event originated no more and no less than 66 million years ago.
Impact Finding
It all happened when Uisdean Nicholson, an assistant professor at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, was doing an analysis of seismic survey data for another project on the tectonic divide between South America and Africa. “While interpreting the data, I came across this very unusual crater-like feature, unlike anything I had seen before. It had all the characteristics of an impact crater,” he noted.
The Scottish scientist reported that the first assertions indicate the possibility that the huge submarine hole could have been caused by an asteroid of more than 1,300 feet of latitude.
Until now, it would not be considered imposing in size compared to the asteroid that caused the famous 100-mile-wide Chicxulub crater that hit the coast of Mexico, but it is of important magnitude that could influence several planetary changes, such as, For example, the disappearance of the dinosaurs.
Veracity
Surely many will wonder if so much time passed, how can it be that they are sure of said discovery?
Nicholson reported that, although it is true that to confirm the truth that said crater was due to an asteroid impact, it would be necessary to drill at ground zero and analyze the minerals in the soil through the event, a situation that would undoubtedly yield the result of determination.
However, the scientist maintains the hypothesis by determining that the characteristics and proportion between the width and depth of the crater, the height of the edges and the height of the central uprising are indisputable signs that confirm the discovery.
“The opportunity to study a submarine impact crater of this size would help us understand the process of ocean impacts, which are the most common, but least well preserved or understood,” concluded Uisdean Nicholson.