2009/12/01 by Tamara Goldin, H. J. Melosh · 2 citations
Environmental Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Engineering · #Fire effects on ecosystems #Aeolian processes and effects #Fire dynamics and safety research
paper · doi:10.1130/g30433a.1
openalex publication_date 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Research Article| December 01, 2009 Self-shielding of thermal radiation by Chicxulub impact ejecta: Firestorm or fizzle? Tamara J. Goldin; Tamara J. Goldin 1Lunar and Planetary Lab, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA *Current address: Department of Lithospheric Research, University of Vienna, Vienna A-1090, Austria; E-mail: [email protected] Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar H. Jay Melosh H. Jay Melosh 1Lunar and Planetary Lab, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Tamara J. Goldin *Current address: Department of Lithospheric Research, University of Vienna, Vienna A-1090, Austria; E-mail: [email protected] 1Lunar and Planetary Lab, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA H. Jay Melosh 1Lunar and Planetary Lab, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 03 Jun 2009 Revision Received: 21 Jul 2009 Accepted: 21 Jul 2009 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2009 Geological Society of America Geology (2009) 37 (12): 1135–1138. https://doi.org/10.1130/G30433A.1 Article history Received: 03 Jun 2009 Revision Received: 21 Jul 2009 Accepted: 21 Jul 2009 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Tamara J. Goldin, H. Jay Melosh; Self-shielding of thermal radiation by Chicxulub impact ejecta: Firestorm or fizzle?. Geology 2009;; 37 (12): 1135–1138. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G30433A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract As hypervelocity ejecta from the Chicxulub (Yucatán, Mexico) impact fell back to Earth, the surface may have received a deadly dose of thermal radiation sufficient to ignite global wildfires. Using a two-phase fluid flow code, which includes ejecta and air opacities in a radiative transfer calculation, we modeled the atmospheric reentry of spherules arriving at distal sites. The models predict a pulse of thermal radiation at the surface peaking at 5–15 kW/m2, analogous to an oven set on "broil" (~260° C). Previous calculations, which ignored spherule opacity, yielded >10 kW/m2 sustained over >20 min and such an extended pulse is thought to be required for wood ignition. However, the new modeling suggests that fluxes only exceed the solar norm for ~30 min and are only >5 kW/m2 for a few minutes. Previous models failed to consider the self-shielding effect of settling spherules, which block an increasing proportion of downward thermal radiation emitted by the later-arriving spherules. Such self-shielding may have prevented widespread wildfire ignition, although the thermal pulse may have been sufficient to ignite localized fires and kill fauna lacking temporary shelter. An opaque cap of submicron dust in the upper atmosphere could, however, override the self-shielding effect. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.