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Re: Close-Call Asteroid Coming


Hello Michael, Ron, and List,

Here are a few "facts" about the subject I gleaned from my readings.

Tunguska knocked down trees in a 1000-1300 square kilometer area but did not disrupt any ecosystems.  In comparison ,I recall  that Mount St. Helens took out 20-30 square miles.

A 1 km diameter asteroid would release 7,500 Megatons of equivalent TNT  in other terms 15 BILLION Hiroshima type bombs and a casualty level of 1-1.2 Billion Humans.  Close but not a Extinction Level Event (ELE) for humans.  A serious reduction in demand for computers, however, a boon in demand for hammer and chisel and cave art in some cultures.....

Just  wanted to pass those figures along.  Have a good Memorial Day.
Regards,
Elton


Michael Blood wrote:
> 
> >This would be like another Tunguska, wouldn't it?
> ---
> No, 1999 AN10 is in the PHA category and about 1 km in diameter.  It
> would do major damage if it hit the Earth.
> Ron Baalke
> ---
> Ron,
>         I am confused. You do NOT consider Tunguska "major damage?"
>         The 65 MYA dynosaur exterminator (as well as about 65 to 75% of all
> life on earth) was extimated to be 6 km in diameter.
> However, 1 km has "only" a very small fraction of the mass of a 6 km
> body.
>         Personally, I consider Tunguska to have caused ultra major damage (what
> was it? Flattened 10,000 square miles?) - however, it was in a nearly
> unpopulated area - it certainly would have entirely obliterated any
> major city on earth. However, relative to a 6 km diameter body, 1 km is
> "relatively" "small." "Major," yes, but still significantly less so than
> the impact of the 65myo Yucatan impact.  So, what IS the estimated
> impact ?
>         Best wishes, Michael

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