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Three-dimensional simulations of oblique asteroid impacts into water

Journal Article · · Journal of Space Safety Engineering
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
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Waves generated by impacts into oceans may represent the most significant danger from near-earth asteroids and comets. For impacts near populated shores, the crown splash and subsequent waves, accompanied by sediment lofting and high winds, are more damaging than storm surges from the strongest hurricanes. Asteroids less than 500 m in diameter, impacting deep water far from shores, produce waves that may be detectable over large distances, but are probably not significantly dangerous. Here, we present new three-dimensional simulations of oblique impacts into deep water, with trajectory angles ranging from 27° to 60° (where 90° is vertical). These simulations are performed with the Los Alamos Rage hydrocode, and include atmospheric effects including ablation and airbursts. These oblique impact simulations are specifically performed in order to help determine whether there are additional dangers from the obliquity of impact not covered by previous two-dimensional studies. Water surface elevation profiles, surface pressures, and depth-averaged mass fluxes within the water are prepared for use in propagation studies
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1461396
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1694322
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--17-25299
Journal Information:
Journal of Space Safety Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Space Safety Engineering Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 5; ISSN 2468-8967
Publisher:
Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) - ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (10)

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Mjølnir Crater as a Result of Oblique Impact: Asymmetry Evidence Constrains Impact Direction and Angle book January 2005
Calculations of Asteroid Impacts into Deep and Shallow Water journal November 2010
A Quantitative Assessment of the Human and Economic Hazard from Impact-generated Tsunami journal July 2006
Sedimentary signatures and processes during marine bolide impacts: a review journal October 2003
Traces of the marine Mjølnir impact event journal November 2006
Characteristics of oceanic impact-induced large water waves-Re-evaluation of the tsunami hazard journal November 2007
Chelyabinsk Airburst, Damage Assessment, Meteorite Recovery, and Characterization journal November 2013
Impacts, mega-tsunami, and other extraordinary claims journal January 2008
Tsunami Simulations journal January 2008

Cited By (2)

Multivariate Pointwise Information-Driven Data Sampling and Visualization journal July 2019
Multivariate Pointwise Information-Driven Data Sampling and Visualization text January 2019

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Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING
Asteroid ocean impacts
Hydrocode simulations
Impact wave generation