ASTEROID IMPACTS OR NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF BLACK SEA AND RISKS FOR POISONING THE INLAND POPULATION

Viorel Badescu ()
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Viorel Badescu: Candida Oancea Institute, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Spl. Independentei 313, Bucharest 060042, Romania

Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), 2009, vol. 11, issue 01, 131-159

Abstract: The impact of a large asteroid or a nuclear explosion in Black Sea may cause a catastrophic poisonous gas (H2S) release in the atmosphere. Some effects of this phenomenon are evaluated. The land surface area covered by theH2Scloud generated by a 1,000 m size asteroid ranges between about 5,760 km2and 9,920 km2. This may affect between 1,400,000 and 2,470,000 people. In case of a 70 m size asteroid, the cloud covers between 105 km2and 210 km2and 26,000 to 52,000 people may be affected. The evaluations may be a few times underestimated for some particular wind directions. Nuclear explosions of 1 Mton and 50 Mton TNT may be assimilated to the impact by asteroids of about 33 m and 120 m diameter, respectively. The social effects of these events may be diminished if some general procedures are implemented.

Keywords: Asteroid impact; nuclear explosion; Black Sea; hydrogen sulfide; procedures for authorities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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DOI: 10.1142/S1464333209003270

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