Chicxulub: Anatomy of a lethal crater

Apr 13, 2017
  • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
  • Location:
    Faculty of Science, ESB 5104-06
    2020 Main Mall
    Vancouver, BC

In April 2016, the “International Ocean Discovery Program” (IODP) recovered a 1,335 m core in the Chicxulub crater, offshore Yucatan, which formation likely caused the demise of the dinosaurs and approximately 60% of Earth’s fauna and flora 66 million years ago. In this talk, Prof. Philippe  Claeys will discuss the cratering process, ejecta production and consequences for the Late Cretaceous Earth System. This core represents an opportunity to document cratering dynamics and target behavior and formation of an elevated central peak-ring, which has implications for understanding collisions on other planetary bodies (the moon, Mars and asteroids).