Second Doomsday Scenario, and once again, the fall of a Manhattan-sized asteroid, this time on the European continent, specifically in the Alps... Let's see how this plays out...
A scenario involving the fall of a Manhattan-sized asteroid in the Alps would be extremely catastrophic and would involve a series of geophysical and climatic phenomena, as one might expect.
The kinetic energy of an asteroid during impact depends on its mass and the speed at which it collides. Let's assume the asteroid is composed of rocky material (average density of 3,000 kg/m³) and the impact velocity is 20 km/s, a typical speed for such collisions. This corresponds to approximately 90,000 gigatons of TNT, about 4,500 times the energy of the Chicxulub Crater explosion, the asteroid impact that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Crater Formation:
The crater resulting from such an impact is estimated to have a diameter of 100-200 km and a depth of over 10 km. Such an impact would completely reshape the Alpine region, creating a massive geological event.
The area around the Alps would turn into scorched earth, with massive explosions propelling tons of material into the atmosphere. Temperatures reaching thousands of degrees Celsius, capable of melting rocks and vaporizing any living organism. The shockwave from the impact would spread at supersonic speeds, destroying everything within a radius of hundreds of kilometers. Every structure or mountain in the Alps would collapse.
Local Consequences:
The Alps would be completely destroyed in the immediate impact zone. All life, cities, and ecosystems within hundreds of kilometers would be obliterated.
The impact would trigger a massive earthquake exceeding 11-12 on the Richter scale. The seismic tremors would be felt throughout Europe and beyond, with possible secondary ruptures causing further devastation. Enormous damage would occur in surrounding countries, with thousands of buildings collapsing.
Waves of scorching aerosol (a phenomenon known as aerosol clouds) would ignite fires across vast areas. The asteroid would generate an immense emission of thermal radiation, causing fires to break out across Europe, with large forested regions being destroyed. Even regions such as Germany and France would face massive fiery waves that would burn everything in their path.
Climatic Consequences:
The dust and debris released into the atmosphere would cause a nuclear winter, reducing the planet's temperature by several degrees for years, as it blocks solar radiation from reaching Earth. This would result in a temperature drop of 5-10°C, depending on the intensity of the gases and dust, as well as the destruction of crops worldwide, leading to mass food shortages and humanitarian crises.
The climate changes would be similar to those believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, resulting in the mass extinction of animals and plants. This could also include humans... Ecosystems across large areas would collapse.
Tsunami:
If the impact affects a large body of water nearby (e.g., the Adriatic Sea or the Mediterranean), tsunamis of heights between 100-300 meters would be generated, hitting the coastal areas of Italy, France, and the Balkans, destroying coastal cities.
Global Consequences:
The largest cities in Europe would be struck by immediate catastrophic phenomena, such as fires and earthquakes. Global supply chains would be disrupted, the economy would collapse, and human societies would find themselves in a chaotic state.
The destruction would be so extensive that the effects would be felt all over the planet. Ecosystems would collapse, and humans (those who survive) could enter a new age of survival, facing food shortages and changes in resource availability.
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