Modern scientists fear the impact of a celestial body on the Earth, which can change the atmosphere of our planet for several millennia, change its surface and provoke global natural disasters.
At the moment, a group of researchers of the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences is engaged in the analysis of possible threats and modeling of the alleged negative consequences resulting from the fall of a space object to the Earth. Prof. Boris Shustov, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, is in charge of the work.
For example, the impact of a celestial body with a diameter of not more than 100 meters with a kinetic energy not exceeding 100 megatons will result in earthquakes, tsunamis and fires.
In total, researchers of the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences revealed eight factors of damage, which entail the interaction of a space object with the surface and atmosphere of the Earth.
These include: a crater-blow – leads to changes in the relief, a shock wave in the atmosphere, thermal radiation – causes fires, a seismic wave – the occurrence of earthquakes, tsunamis, electromagnetic disturbances, release of water and dust into the atmosphere, acoustic-gravity waves, and so The occurrence of dangerous chemical reactions in the atmosphere.
