Wolfram Function Repository

Instant-use add-on functions for the Wolfram Language

Function Repository Resource:

 EarthAsteroidImpact

Source Notebook

Calculate the physical effects of an asteroid impact on Earth based on asteroid composition and velocity

Contributed by: Jason Martinez

ResourceFunction["EarthAsteroidImpact"][impactordensity,locationdensity,initialimpactordiameter,velocity,distancefromimpact,impactangle]

computes impact parameters for an asteroid colliding with Earth.

Details and Options

All parameters must be Quantity objects.
impactordensity and locationdensity have dimensions of mass density such as . impactordensity is the density of the impacting body. locationdensity is the density of the surface rock being impacted.
initialimpactordiameter and distancefromimpact have dimensions of length such as "Meters". initialimpactordiameter is the initial impactor diameter. distancefromimpact is the observer distance from impact.
velocity has dimensions of speed such as . velocity is the initial velocity of the impactor.
impactangle has dimensions of an angle such as "AngularDegrees". impactangle is the approach angle of the impactor measured from horizontal.
ResourceFunction["EarthAsteroidImpact"] returns an Association of the asteroid impact parameters. These include:
"BreakupAltitude"altitude at which the impactor begins to break up
"AirburstAltitude"altitude at which the impactor explodes in an airburst
"FinalSimpleCraterDiameter"diameter of the final simple impact crater
"PeakOverpressure"peak overpressure
"BrecciaLenseThickness"thickness of the breccia lense at the bottom of a simple crater
"BrecciaLenseVolume"volume of the breccia lense at the bottom of a simple crater
"ComplexCraterDepth"depth of the resulting complex crater
"ComplexCraterDiameter"diameter of the resulting complex crater
"CraterRimHeight"height of the final crater rim
"DebrisFieldDiameter"diameter of the debris field from broken-up impactor
"EarthRecurrenceInterval"average time interval between impacts of equivalent energy on the Earth
"EffectiveSeismicMagnitude"seismic magnitude
"EjectaArrivalTime"ejecta arrival time
"EjectaThickness"ejecta thickness
"FinalSimpleCraterDepth"depth of the final simple impact crater
"FireballRadius"visible fireball radius
"ImpactEnergy"impact energy
"ImpactVelocity"impact velocity
"InitialKineticEnergy"initial kinetic energy
"IrradiationDuration"irradiation duration
"MaximumThermalRadiationTime"maximum thermal radiation time
"MeanEjectaParticleDiameter"mean ejecta particle diameter
"MeltSheetThickness"thickness of the melt layer at the bottom of the resulting complex crater
"MeltVolume"volume of the melt layer at the bottom of the resulting complex crater
"PeakWindVelocity"peak wind velocity
"SeismicArrivalTime"seismic arrival time
"ShockWaveTravelTime"shock wave travel time
"ThermalExposure"thermal exposure
"TransientCraterDepth"depth of the initial impact crater
"TransientCraterDiameter"diameter of the initial impact crater

Examples

Basic Examples (1) 

Compute the effects of an asteroid impact on Earth:

In[1]:=
ResourceFunction["EarthAsteroidImpact"][ Quantity[2.7, "Grams"/"Centimeters"^3], Quantity[2.5, "Grams"/"Centimeters"^3], Quantity[500, "Meters"], Quantity[18000, "Meters"/"Seconds"], Quantity[80, "Kilometers"], Quantity[90, "AngularDegrees"]]
Out[1]=

Scope (3) 

Compute the impact effects of an icy body impacting Earth:

In[2]:=
ResourceFunction["EarthAsteroidImpact"][ Quantity[1000, "Kilograms"/"Meters"^3], Quantity[2.5, "Grams"/"Centimeters"^3], Quantity[200, "Meters"], Quantity[50000, "Meters"/"Seconds"], Quantity[80, "Kilometers"], Quantity[45, "AngularDegrees"]]
Out[2]=

Compute the effects of an airburst resulting from an asteroid hitting the Earth's atmosphere:

In[3]:=
ResourceFunction["EarthAsteroidImpact"][ Quantity[1000, "Kilograms"/"Meters"^3], Quantity[2500, "Kilograms"/"Meters"^3], Quantity[100, "Meters"], Quantity[50, "Kilometers"/"Seconds"], Quantity[80, "Kilometers"], Quantity[45, "AngularDegrees"]]
Out[3]=

Compute the effects of a 1.75 km diameter, dense asteroid hitting crystalline rock:

In[4]:=
ResourceFunction["EarthAsteroidImpact"][ Quantity[2700, "Kilograms"/"Meters"^3], Quantity[2750, "Kilograms"/"Meters"^3], Quantity[1.75, "Kilometers"], Quantity[20, "Kilometers"/"Seconds"], Quantity[80, "Kilometers"], Quantity[45, "AngularDegrees"]]
Out[4]=

Version History

  • 1.0.1 – 30 September 2022
  • 1.0.0 – 10 July 2019

Source Metadata

  • Citation:
    • Collins, G. S., Melosh, H. J., Marcus, R. A., "Earth Impact Effects Program: A Web-based computer program for calculating the regional environmental consequences of a meteoroid impact on Earth." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, vol. 40, no. 6, 817–840, 2005. DOI: 10.1111/j.1945-5100.2005.tb00157.x

Related Resources

Author Notes

EarthAsteroidImpact has limitations with at very low velocities, impactor densities and diameters that may restrict calculations of centian impactors. Crater calculations may be inaccurate above for extremely large impactors (over 1500 km) at which point the Earth's entire crust may be melted.

License Information