Earth may have lost half of its atmosphere to create Moon, reveals study using 3D videos

How would a collision of some celestial object with Earth look like? Will our planet shatter into millions of pieces of debris or be torn into larger objects.

It might be hard for some to imagine but certainly t for researchers and geeks at Durham University who have w used advanced 3D computer simulations to show how Earth-like planets with thin atmospheres might have evolved in an early solar system depending on how y are impacted by or objects.

Astromers in Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University, conducted simulations on COSMA supercomputer and used SWIFT open-source code, largely developed and maintained at Durham, to enable running of se high-resolution supercomputer simulations.

findings provide greater insight into what happens during se giant impacts, which scientists kw are common and important events in evolution of planets both in our solar system and beyond. Using 3D supercomputer simulations, researchers have found a way of revealing how much atmosphere is lost during se events.

researchers ran more than 100 detailed simulations of different giant impacts, altering speed and angle of impact on each occasion. y found that grazing impacts – like one thought to have formed our Moon 4.5 billion years ago – led to much less atmospheric loss than a direct hit.

READ | Does South Atlantic Amaly Suggest That Earth's Magnetic Poles Could Flip? Find Out

READ | Comet, Asteroid & Meteoroid Flying By Earth In 2020; Kw How y Differ From Each Or

Giant impacts

Head-on collisions and higher speeds led to much greater erosion, sometimes obliterating atmosphere completely along with some of mantle, layer that sits under a planet’s crust.

Using results, study estimates that Earth got lucky with its collision that created Moon. impact only mand to wipe out between 10% to 50% of its atmosphere.

"In spite of remarkably diverse consequences that can come from different impact angles and speeds, we've found a simple way to predict how much atmosphere would be lost,” said lead author of study, Dr. Jacob Kegerreis. 

study will help scientists to understand both Earth’s history as a habitable planet and evolution of exoplanets around or stars. researchers are carrying out hundreds of more simulations to test effects that different masses and compositions of colliding objects might have.

READ | Asteroid 2002 BF25 Will Pass Very Close To Earth's Orbit On July 21: NASA

READ | NASA News: Asteroid Size Of London Eye Will Soon Pass Very Close To Earth's Orbit