Posted on 07/02/2008 3:27:51 PM PDT by blam
Exploding asteroid theory strengthened by new evidence located in Ohio, Indiana
Space & Earth science / Earth Sciences
Ken Tankersley seen working in the field in a cave in this publicity photo from the National Geographic Channel.
Geological evidence found in Ohio and Indiana in recent weeks is strengthening the case to attribute what happened 12,900 years ago in North America -- when the end of the last Ice Age unexpectedly turned into a phase of extinction for animals and humans -- to a cataclysmic comet or asteroid explosion over top of Canada.
A comet/asteroid theory advanced by Arizona-based geophysicist Allen West in the past two years says that an object from space exploded just above the earth's surface at that time over modern-day Canada, sparking a massive shock wave and heat-generating event that set large parts of the northern hemisphere ablaze, setting the stage for the extinctions.
Now University of Cincinnati Assistant Professor of Anthropology Ken Tankersley, working in conjunction with West and Indiana Geological Society Research Scientist Nelson R. Schaffer, has verified evidence from sites in Ohio and Indiana -- including, locally, Hamilton and Clermont counties in Ohio and Brown County in Indiana -- that offers the strongest support yet for the exploding comet/asteroid theory.
Samples of diamonds, gold and silver that have been found in the region have been conclusively sourced through X-ray diffractometry in the lab of UC Professor of Geology Warren Huff back to the diamond fields region of Canada.
The only plausible scenario available now for explaining their presence this far south is the kind of cataclysmic explosive event described by West's theory. "We believe this is the strongest evidence yet indicating a comet impact in that time period," says Tankersley.
Ironically, Tankersley had gone into the field with West believing he might be able to disprove West's theory.
Tankersley was familiar through years of work in this area with the diamonds, gold and silver deposits, which at one point could be found in such abundance in this region that the Hopewell Indians who lived here about 2,000 years ago engaged in trade in these items.
Prevailing thought said that these deposits, which are found at a soil depth consistent with the time frame of the comet/asteroid event, had been brought south from the Great Lakes region by glaciers.
"My smoking gun to disprove (West) was going to be the gold, silver and diamonds," Tankersley says. "But what I didn't know at that point was a conclusion he had reached that he had not yet made public -- that the likely point of impact for the comet wasn't just anywhere over Canada, but located over Canada's diamond-bearing fields. Instead of becoming the basis for rejecting his hypothesis, these items became the very best evidence to support it."
Additional sourcing work is being done at the sites looking for iridium, micro-meteorites and nano-diamonds that bear the markers of the diamond-field region, which also should have been blasted by the impact into this region.
Much of the work is being done in Sheriden Cave in north-central Ohio's Wyandot County, a rich repository of material dating back to the Ice Age.
Tankersley first came into contact with West and Schaffer when they were invited guests for interdisciplinary colloquia presented by UC's Department of Geology this spring.
West presented on his theory that a large comet or asteroid, believed to be more than a mile in diameter, exploded just above the earth at a time when the last Ice Age appeared to be drawing to a close.
The timing attached to this theory of about 12,900 years ago is consistent with the known disappearances in North America of the wooly mammoth population and the first distinct human society to inhabit the continent, known as the Clovis civilization. At that time, climatic history suggests the Ice Age should have been drawing to a close, but a rapid change known as the Younger Dryas event, instead ushered in another 1,300 years of glacial conditions. A cataclysmic explosion consistent with West's theory would have the potential to create the kind of atmospheric turmoil necessary to produce such conditions.
"The kind of evidence we are finding does suggest that climate change at the end of the last Ice Age was the result of a catastrophic event," Tankersley says.
Currently, Tankersley can be seen in a new documentary airing on the National Geographic channel. The film "Ancient Asteroids" is part of that network's "Naked Science" series.
The new discoveries made working with West and Schaffer will be incorporated into two more specials that Tankersley is currently involved with -- one for the PBS series "Nova" and a second for the History Channel that will be filming Tankersley and his UC students in the field this summer. Another documentary, this one being produced by the Discovery Channel and the British public television network Channel 4, will also be following Tankersley and his students later this summer.
As more data continues to be compiled, Tankersley, West and Schaffer will be publishing about this newest twist in the search to explain the history of our planet and its climate.
Climate change is a favorite topic for Tankersley. "The ultimate importance of this kind of work is showing that we can't control everything," he says. "Our planet has been hit by asteroids many times throughout its history, and when that happens, it does produce climate change."
Source: University of Cincinnati
I don’t know about all that, but I know Obama! can Make Change! with is mighty mind and huge heart!
All he will need to do once he is properly installed as our new Emperor is to speak truth to power and banish all bad things! Even bad space things!
Ooohmmm Obama! Many Changes Ooohmmm.
PS, not really.
This space rock type cat-a**-trophy (apps to Piers Anthony and The Magic of Zanth) stuff is very interesting to me, if that matters any. I don’t see how we can actually do anything about any of it, even if we do see a rock heading our way, but then again, there’s lots I don’t know so maybe we’ve got Space Rock Zappers already in the inventory.
“I don’t see how we can do anything about it. (incoming space rocks)” Don’t be so gloomy.
Did you miss the two dramatic films a few years ago about such a scenario? I think the titles were “Deep Impact” and “Armagedon”. Bruce Willis was in one of them. One movie described landing on and drilling deep into the asteroid and setting off a nuclear device. More recent real life suggestions have been to detonate a rocket delivered nuclear device on the surface to cause a very slight deflection in the orbit. The longer lead time we had on the existance of an “incoming”, the better this much simpler technology would work. Thus the need to have lots of eyes both north and south look for them. Amateur astronomers have made significant contributions in finding new space objects.
Yep. Saw those. I also saw Galaxy Quest and a bunch of Star Trek shows over the years. The abilities in all those are just about co-equal in the “out of our reach, outside of our ability” as of yet.
I’m sure things will progress toward such abilities, unless the Progressives gain any more power. In that case it’ll be a reacquaintence with the good ol’ Dark Ages for sure and for certain.
Is this an Immoderate Moderator ping?
Bad timing on someone's part, since this is Freepathon time again, and it is always bad juju to P*** off those who usually help foot one's bills.
Sort of like the Brit's "local council's" wanting to raise taxes on the peasants, to pay for more trash police, so they can collect more fines from said peasants for putting stuff in the wrong bin.
Yup. It cost them my $30.00 (dollar-A-day) monthly donation. I refuse to pay while being insulted.
Ancient Superflood Brought Climate Chaos
ABC Science News | 8-15-2003 | Bob Beale
Posted on 08/15/2003 8:08:56 AM PDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/964714/posts
Broken Ice Dam Blamed For 300-Year Chill
New Scientist | 1-10-2006 | Kurt Kleiner
Posted on 01/10/2006 2:47:01 PM PST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1555576/posts
Ping.
Note: this topic is from 2008. Thanks blam.
Climate change is a favorite topic for Tankersley. "The ultimate importance of this kind of work is showing that we can't control everything," he says. "Our planet has been hit by asteroids many times throughout its history, and when that happens, it does produce climate change."
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