Scientists Uncover a Colossal Underwater Impact Crater Three Times the Size of the Grand Canyon – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel

Scientists have made an extraordinary discovery of an underwater crater beneath the Chesapeake Bay, which is three times the size of the Grand Canyon. Created by an asteroid strike 35 million years ago, the impact sent massive shockwaves through the Earth, causing earthquakes, fires, and a tsunami. The crater measures approximately 25 miles in diameter and remains one of the largest known impact craters in the United States. In an extraordinary breakthrough, scientists have discovered a massive underwater crater buried beneath the waters of the Chesapeake Bay that is three times the size of the Grand Canyon. This ancient impact crater, created by an asteroid that struck the ocean off the East Coast of North America around 35 million years ago, provides new insights into the violent forces that shaped the Earth’s surface. The discovery of the crater, which was confirmed in the early 1990s through drilling, adds to our understanding of how catastrophic events—like asteroid impacts—have influenced Earth’s geological history and its biological evolution.The asteroid’s impact not only left behind a massive crater but also caused widespread devastation, including massive fires, powerful earthquakes, and a tsunami that reshaped the landscape of what is now Virginia and Maryland. The crater created by this asteroid impact measures approximately 25 miles in diameter, making it one of the largest known impact craters in the United States. As scientists continue to study this remarkable discovery, they are piecing together the incredible forces at play and their long-lasting effects on the planet.The massive underwater crater formed by the asteroid impact is a staggering reminder of the destructive power that shaped Earth’s geological history. Covered by layers of sediment over millions of years, the crater remained hidden until it was discovered in the early 1990s through scientific drilling. This discovery was a pivotal moment for the scientific community, as it revealed the scale of the ancient event that had shaped the East Coast of North America. At 25 miles in diameter, this crater is significantly larger than most known impact craters on Earth and serves as a key piece of evidence for understanding the dynamics of asteroid strikes.The study of this crater has provided scientists with new tools for investigating the effects of asteroid impacts on the Earth’s surface, shedding light on how such events can cause widespread destruction and leave lasting marks on the planet’s landscape. Scientists have also been able to analyze the debris ejected by the impact, which stretched across an area of more than 4 million square miles—a region nearly ten times the size of Texas—allowing them to piece together the timeline and intensity of the event.The asteroid impact did more than just create a crater—it triggered a series of global effects that had lasting consequences for Earth’s environment and climate. The collision sent debris into the atmosphere, including tektites—natural glass formed from meteorite impacts—and zircon crystals, which underwent intense shock. These shock-metamorphosed minerals serve as key geological evidence of the impact’s force. The ejected debris formed the North American tektite strewn field, which stretches across approximately 4 million square miles.This scattered material not only cooled rapidly upon contact with seawater, but much of it also settled on the ocean floor, preserving a detailed record of the event. The analysis of these materials, including the shock-affected zircon crystals, has given scientists crucial information about the timing and intensity of the asteroid impact. These crystals, which are about the thickness of a human hair, were found in oceanic sediments 400 kilometers (250 miles) northeast of the impact site, providing valuable clues about the shock pressures created during the collision.To refine the understanding of the asteroid’s impact and its global effects, researchers applied advanced dating techniques to the materials collected from the impact site. The team, led by Marc Biren from Arizona State University, used uranium-thorium-helium dating to establish a more precise timeline for when the materials were ejected, as well as how they cooled and settled. These findings are critical not only for understanding the event’s timing but also for the broader field of impact event studies, as they shed light on how similar asteroid strikes might have impacted Earth’s geological and biological history.This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.Got a reaction? Share your thoughts in the commentsEnjoyed this article? Subscribe to our free newsletter for engaging stories, exclusive content, and the latest news.Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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