What is the Equivalent Strength of the Chicxulub Impact in Atomic Bombs?

In summary, the Chicxulub impact, which is believed to have contributed to the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs approximately 66 million years ago, is estimated to have released energy equivalent to around 100 million atomic bombs. This comparison highlights the immense force of the impact, which created a crater over 150 kilometers wide and had significant global effects, including wildfires, tsunamis, and a dramatic climate shift. The event serves as a crucial point of study in understanding the geological and biological history of Earth.
  • #1
KingGambit
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Hi PF Forum,
How are you guys. I hope you guys are doing fine.
I often come a statement like this.
This earthquake is as strong as 1 million atomic bombs.
This volcano is as strong as some million atomic bombs.

And now in this video.
Chicxulub impact
"... this impact carried more than 10 billion atomic bombs."
Which of the atomic bomb that it refers to?
Little boy, Trinity, Fat man, Tsar Bomba?
I mean, I know 1 unit calorie is something like 4.2 joules
or
1 PSI is approximately 7000 pascal, 1 ton TNT = 1 billion calories
Thanks for your attentions.
 
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  • #2
I can't watch your video right now, but references should specify, and the first hit on Google used Hiroshima:
Finally in this section, it is interesting to compare the energy produced by earthquakes with other energy sources. The amount of energy released by the Hiroshima nuclear bomb was about 1012 J, whereas one magnitude 8.9 earthquake released about 1018 J of seismic energy (Figure 9). This is a million times more energy (i.e. a factor of 106) than the Hiroshima bomb. The amount of energy used every day in the UK is somewhat more than 1016 J

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/geology/earthquakes/content-section-4.3

Hiroshima is a "good" choice because it was actually used so it caused actual damage.
 
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  • #3
In general when I see a video or read a text that uses such vague information - I don't believe it, as apparently whoever recorded/wrote it didn't understand basics.
 
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  • #4
KingGambit said:
Hi PF Forum,
How are you guys. I hope you guys are doing fine.
I often come a statement like this.
This earthquake is as strong as 1 million atomic bombs.
This volcano is as strong as some million atomic bombs.

And now in this video.
Chicxulub impact
"... this impact carried more than 10 billion atomic bombs."
Which of the atomic bomb that it refers to?
Little boy, Trinity, Fat man, Tsar Bomba?
I mean, I know 1 unit calorie is something like 4.2 joules
or
1 PSI is approximately 7000 pascal, 1 ton TNT = 1 billion calories
Thanks for your attentions.

russ_watters said:
I can't watch your video right now, but references should specify, and the first hit on Google used Hiroshima:


https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/geology/earthquakes/content-section-4.3

Hiroshima is a "good" choice because it was actually used so it caused actual damage.

Borek said:
In general when I see a video or read a text that uses such vague information - I don't believe it, as apparently whoever recorded/wrote it didn't understand basics.
See: "Sverdrup;" an "FYI."
 
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  • #5
FYI, with not much googling you can verify the math. The wiki article for the asteroid says 72 teratonnes, or 10^12. Hiroshima was 15 kilotons, so it looks like 4.8 billion of them to me.
 
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FAQ: What is the Equivalent Strength of the Chicxulub Impact in Atomic Bombs?

How powerful was the Chicxulub impact compared to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima?

The Chicxulub impact is estimated to have released energy equivalent to about 10 billion Hiroshima bombs. The Hiroshima bomb had an energy release of approximately 15 kilotons of TNT, so the Chicxulub impact released around 150 million megatons of TNT.

What was the estimated energy release of the Chicxulub impact in megatons of TNT?

The estimated energy release of the Chicxulub impact is about 100 million to 300 million megatons of TNT. This immense energy release is what caused such widespread devastation and contributed to the mass extinction event.

How does the energy release of the Chicxulub impact compare to modern nuclear weapons?

Modern nuclear weapons, such as the Tsar Bomba, the most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated, had an energy release of about 50 megatons of TNT. The Chicxulub impact's energy release was millions of times greater, making it vastly more powerful than any human-made nuclear weapon.

What were the global effects of the Chicxulub impact compared to the effects of an atomic bomb?

The Chicxulub impact caused global effects including massive fires, a "nuclear winter" scenario with significant cooling due to dust and aerosols in the atmosphere, and acid rain. An atomic bomb, while devastating locally, does not have the same global impact. The Chicxulub event led to the extinction of about 75% of Earth's species, including the dinosaurs.

How does the size of the Chicxulub impactor compare to the size of an atomic bomb?

The Chicxulub impactor is estimated to have been about 10 kilometers (6 miles) in diameter. In contrast, the physical size of an atomic bomb, like the one dropped on Hiroshima, is much smaller, typically a few meters in length. The massive size of the Chicxulub impactor contributed to its immense energy release upon collision with Earth.

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