Massive Meteorite Impact Discovered: Tsunami and Boiling Oceans 3 Billion Years Ago Altered Earth's Early Life

Massive Meteorite Impact Discovered

A recent study has uncovered that a colossal meteorite, first identified in 2014, caused a catastrophic tsunami and boiled Earth’s oceans around three billion years ago. This meteorite, known as S2, was 200 times larger than the asteroid that contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs. At the time of impact, the planet was still in its formative stages, largely covered by water with only a few emerging landmasses.

Researchers, led by Professor Nadja Drabon from Harvard University, ventured to the impact site in South Africa’s Eastern Barberton Greenbelt. Equipped with sledgehammers, they collected rock samples, focusing on spherule particles left by the impact. Accompanied by armed rangers for safety against wildlife, the team gathered hundreds of kilograms of material to analyze the effects of this ancient disaster.

The meteorite struck with such force that it gouged a 500-kilometer crater and created a massive cloud of debris that encircled the planet. This event generated an enormous tsunami that devastated coastlines and raised ocean temperatures, leading to significant evaporation. The resulting darkness hindered photosynthesis, threatening early life forms, yet the aftermath brought unexpected nutrients that were essential for survival.

Surprisingly, the study revealed that these large impacts acted like natural fertilizers, redistributing nutrients such as phosphorus and iron across the globe. This influx of essential elements enabled early microbial life to rebound swiftly after the catastrophe. The findings challenge previous assumptions about the destructive nature of such impacts, suggesting they may have provided favorable conditions for life to flourish. The research has been published in the scientific journal PNAS.

Massive Meteorite Impact Discovered: Tsunami and Boiling Oceans 3 Billion Years Ago Altered Earth's Early Life