Scientific Objectives:

UTIG’s multichannel seismic survey will map features such as the geometry of the peak ring, and the possible thrust boundary beneath the peak ring.

A modeling effort, together with the multichannel seismic profiles, will address four major objectives.

• First, it will determine the direction of the approach of the bolide within ten degrees.
   

•  A second objective is to map the deformation recorded in the upper crust near the crater center.
   

• Third, the study will image the peak ring and other morphologic features in the northwest quadrant of the crater in order to improve our physical understanding it's features.
   

• Fourth, the study will yield a model of the three dimensional collapse of an asymmetric crater.

Why research the Chicxulub impact site?

The Chicxulub impact crater represents a significant event in Earth’s history, and has implications that span several scientific disciplines. The crater has been linked with the mass extinction event that took place at the end of the Cretaceous period, about 65 million years ago. More than 70% of all species went extinct at this time, including the dinosaurs. There is much debate as to whether the collision that formed the Chicxulub structure was the driving force behind the extinction event, or whether it was a combination of factors. The data acquired by the upcoming cruise should provide additional information on the environmental and climatic fallout that followed the impact.

Chicxulub is also of great interest for the study of impact cratering. There are very few known impact craters of this size on Earth, and Chicxulub is the only one that is relatively untouched by the forces of erosion or tectonic deformation. The geologic setting on which the impact occurred has remained stable for the last 65 million years, and the crater has been blanketed by several kilometers of carbonate rocks and sediments. The images obtained by the seismic reflection survey will be used to construct models of crater formation that can be applied throughout the solar system.

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UTIG Participation
Funded by
The National Science Foundation

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