Saturday night I got to bed around 1230 or so. I w
as tossing and turning, unable to sleep for some reason. I fired up the TV to the Discovery Channel and “Super Comet: After The Impact” was on.
First, let me say that I’m a big fan of astronomy and, oddly enough, the end of the world. I like post-apocalyptic movies. From Mad Max to The Postman, I’m all about the end of civilization. Probably a bit morbid, but I can’t always helps what interests me. It’s better than watching the biographies of mass murderers.
“Super Comet” scared the super $&@#$ out of me. I probably shouldn’t have watched it at bed time when I was tired, but there were a lot of things that I didn’t know that science predicts what could happen. I am not a cataclysm expert by any stretch, but the show really intrigued me.
Here’s a few of the things I found interesting.
- An eight-mile wide comet hitting the Gulf Of Mexico would cause an 3000 feet high tidal wave moving at 200-300 mph.
- This tidal wave would hit almost ever coast line in the world, killing pretty much anything from 50-500 miles in-land, based upon proximity to the point of impact.
- Ejecta from the impact would encircle the earth and fall back down, raiding the temperature in upwards of several hundred degrees. At this temperature, trees and forestation would spontaneously combust.
- After the ground cooled, any survivors who were underground would come to the surface and find that dust and ash would blanket the entire earth in total darkness, such as a moonless night.
- Any remaining plant seeds would die without photosynthesis and lichen and fungi would become the dominant species as they don’t need sunlight.
- The dark atmosphere would prevent the sun from warming the planet causing a new Ice Age.
- When the clouds dissipate and the sun returns, temperatures would still be relatively cool due to high level haze, continuing the new Ice Age. Any survivors would need to make their way to ocean coasts where the sea would retain enough heat to make life hospital.
Cheery, eh?
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