In our solar system, the constant danger of meteors hitting Earth presents a significant peril with profound consequences. Should a meteor strike the sea, it would generate an enormous tidal wave of hundreds of meters in height. This forceful impact would submerge extensive land areas and result in widespread devastation and loss of life. The catastrophic effects would have far-reaching ramifications, causing numerous fatalities and rendering countries incapable of response.
If a meteorite were to hit the ocean, it would have catastrophic consequences. These include crop destruction, starvation of survivors, loss of homes without shelters, and rapid spread of disease due to the absence of hospitals or medication. Essentially, this impact would cause temporary disastrous flooding. However, if the meteorite were to directly strike the ice caps, it could result in even more extensive levels of destruction.
Both the melting of the caps and an impact from an object in space on land would have significant effects on Earth. The melting caps could cause a substantial rise in sea level, potentially by several hundred meters. On the other hand, an impact from space would release a considerable amount of dust and dirt into the atmosphere, creating darkness on Earth due to blocked sunlight. These events would lead to various consequences for our planet.
Crops would fail due to the lack of light, leading to widespread starvation and death. Breathing without special masks would be difficult as the dust would not be filtered out. The overall world temperature could significantly drop, potentially triggering an ice age due to the lack of sunlight and heat penetrating the atmosphere. These findings were mentioned in “Death in June” (Discover; page 16). Taking into account all the facts and governmental resources, there is a strong possibility that an earth-hitting meteor could happen anytime, resulting in the end of the world!
Over the course of Earth’s history, numerous meteors have collided with our planet. Fortunately, scientists assure us that none of these impacts posed a major danger. One particularly memorable event occurred on June 30, 1908 in Siberia when a meteor unleashed a catastrophic force comparable to that of a 20-megaton nuclear bomb.
The Tunguska River suffered extensive damage, impacting nearly one thousand square miles of forest. Another example is the widely accepted theory explaining the extinction event for dinosaurs. Although not fully confirmed, researchers and paleontologists continue to believe that a meteor collided with Earth long ago, ultimately causing the extinction of dinosaurs.
The meteor that potentially caused the demise of dinosaurs might have also initiated the ice age by generating a massive dust cloud. Furthermore, despite not making direct contact with Earth, observers were amazed by the occurrence when numerous meteors impacted Jupiter in 2019. Over the course of about a week, multiple meteors collided with Jupiter and produced significant craters on its surface. If these meteors had hit Earth instead of Jupiter, it would have led to catastrophic consequences for our planet.
Approximately 49,000 years ago, a massive 150-foot meteor collided with what is now the state of Arizona, creating the notable crater known by most Americans. This specific crater holds the distinction of being the largest in the United States. Throughout history, Earth has witnessed several catastrophic meteor impacts; however, it is worrisome that there are still numerous meteors lingering just beyond our planet’s atmosphere.
Earth, located in the Milky Way, faces a significant threat of meteor impacts due to its proximity to the Asteroid Belt. This belt, found between Mars and Jupiter, holds numerous meteors that have the potential to detach and head directly towards our planet.
Scientists and government workers are collaborating to address the concern of a potential meteor impact. NASA aims to monitor and trace 90% of meteors over one kilometer in the next ten years. The United States Government plans to increase funding for research on defending against meteor strikes. If a meteor is heading towards Earth, NASA proposes redirecting it as one strategy.
According to Donald Yeomans, a NASA worker, the option available to NASA is to identify any Earth-threatening objects ten to twenty years in advance in order to potentially shift its course by a few millimeters per second. If a threatening object is identified, NASA would need to send a spacecraft to it and detonate an explosion, diverting the meteor away from Earth. However, if a meteor is discovered only months before impact, the chance of preventing it from hitting Earth is only ten percent (source: “Meteor Attack!” Science World, page 11). Although NASA is exploring other ideas, this is currently their best plan. The fact that meteors have previously struck Earth and the government’s efforts to prevent future occurrences suggest they believe it could happen again soon.
There are meteors in space that are larger than any that have hit Earth. It is worrying to think that if a meteor the size of a Volkswagen Beetle were to land in one place, it could destroy our planet. Given past instances of meteor impacts causing damage and the presence of many huge meteors in the Asteroid Belt, it seems reasonable to view Earth as being at high risk of being struck and destroyed once more. As a result, we are very close to imminent danger.
Scientists have determined that the chance of a meteor colliding with Earth and causing significant loss of life is minimal. Their studies show that there is a 1 in every 100,000-year probability for such an event to occur, potentially resulting in the death of at least 100 people. Furthermore, their projections indicate that once every 1,000,000 years, a meteor impact could lead to the demise of at least 1,000 individuals. Importantly, it should be noted that throughout the past several million years, our planet has not encountered a substantial strike resulting in widespread loss of life or significant damage.
The heaviest meteor ever found on Earth, weighing approximately 132,000 pounds and causing significant damage in prehistoric times in Southwest Africa, highlights the immense size of these celestial objects. It is crucial to acknowledge that there are many meteors larger than this, which could potentially pose a threat to our planet. The catastrophic consequences that could arise from such an impact should not be underestimated. Consequently, it is unquestionable that Earth will inevitably experience future meteor strikes that could lead to the extinction of all living creatures, including humanity.
Although it may not happen in the next decade, there is a possibility of such an event occurring in the coming centuries. Earth has witnessed numerous meteor impacts and there are still several significant ones that remain. Thankfully, both the Government and NASA are working together to devise strategies with the goal of averting such incidents.
