Watch: Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Created A Mile-High Global Tsunami

Overview

A gigantic asteroid that struck the earth in the cretaceous period triggered a mile-high megatsunami that eliminated three-quarters of the planet’s life, including dinosaurs. And now, you can watch the unfolding of those devastating waves, thanks to a new simulation presented in a recent study.

Researchers have analyzed the impact of the asteroid that led to the formation of the Chicxulub crater and resulted in destruction on a global scale, shaping their findings into a simulation.

The science and other stuff to know

The team of researchers from the University of Michigan led by Molly Range also studied geological records collected from more than 100 sites across the world, corroborating their findings about the tsunami’s path and power.

“This tsunami was strong enough to disturb and erode sediments in ocean basins halfway around the globe, leaving either a gap in the sedimentary records or a jumble of older sediments,” said Molly Range while speaking to Michigan News.

The simulation shows that the mile-high megatsunami traveled mainly to the East, Northeast, and Southeast. Underwater current speeds likely exceeded 20 centimeters per second (0.4 mph) in the strongest-hit regions. The researchers said the triggered tsunami was 30,000 more powerful than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed over 200,000.