Colossal 3-Billion-Year-Old Meteorite Impact Boiled Oceans and Triggered Mega-Tsunami

Ancient Meteorite Impact Caused Massive Tsunami, Boiled Oceans 3 Billion Years Ago

Scientists have uncovered evidence of a colossal meteorite impact that occurred approximately three billion years ago, causing a massive tsunami and boiling Earth’s oceans. The meteorite, first identified in 2014 and significantly larger than the one responsible for the dinosaurs’ extinction, struck Earth during its formative years.

The meteorite, dubbed S2, measured between 40 and 60 kilometers wide, dwarfing the 10-kilometer asteroid that led to the dinosaurs’ demise. Its impact site was located in the Eastern Barberton Greenstone Belt in South Africa, one of the oldest known meteorite crash sites on Earth. The collision created a staggering 500-kilometer crater and ejected rock fragments globally, resulting in what researchers describe as a rain of molten rock.

Professor Nadja Drabon from Harvard University led a research team to the impact site to collect rock samples. The expedition faced numerous challenges, including remote terrain and the presence of wild animals, necessitating protection from rangers. The team collected spherule particles, remnants of the impact, which were subsequently analyzed to determine the event’s magnitude.

The impact’s effects were catastrophic. It generated a tsunami far larger than any recorded in human history, devastating coastlines and sea floors. The collision released immense heat, causing oceans to boil and significantly raising air temperatures. Dust and particles filled the sky, blocking sunlight and affecting life dependent on photosynthesis.

Despite the widespread destruction, the research suggests that the impact may have had unexpected benefits for early life on Earth. The collision churned up essential nutrients like phosphorus and iron, which are crucial for life. Evidence indicates that life was remarkably resilient, quickly recovering and thriving in the aftermath of the impact.

“Our findings propose that such impacts acted as a global fertilizer, promoting the spread of essential life ingredients,” said Professor Drabon. “This supports the idea that early life on Earth was aided by the succession of meteorite impacts.”

The study’s results, published in the scientific journal PNAS, contribute to our understanding of life’s resilience and adaptability in the face of extreme events. As researchers continue to unravel the mysteries of Earth’s early history, this ancient impact serves as a testament to the planet’s tumultuous past and the tenacity of life itself.