This list includes all 41 confirmed impact structures in Europe as listed in the Earth Impact Database (EID). These features were caused by the collision of large meteorites or comets with the Earth. For eroded or buried craters, the stated diameter typically refers to an estimate of original rim diameter, and may not correspond to present surface features. By EID convention, Russian and Asian craters are grouped together in the List of impact craters in Asia and Russia.
Confirmed impact structures
editUnconfirmed impact structures
editThe following structures are officially considered "unconfirmed" because they are not listed in the Earth Impact Database. Due to stringent requirements regarding evidence and peer-reviewed publication, newly discovered craters or those for which it is difficult to collect evidence are generally known for some time before becoming listed. However, entries on the unconfirmed list could still have an impact origin disproven.
Name | Location | Diameter | Age | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|
Guarda | Portugal | 30 | 200 million (approx.) | 40°38′N 07°06′W / 40.633°N 7.100°W |
Silverpit | North Sea near England | 20[2] | 60 ± 15 million | 54°14′N 1°51′E / 54.233°N 1.850°E |
Sirente | Italy | largest 140 x 115 m | 1700 (approx.) | 42°10′38″N 13°35′45″E / 42.17722°N 13.59583°E |
Ullapool | Loch Broom, Scotland | 50 | 1.2 billion | 57°53′28″N 5°09′54″W / 57.891°N 5.165°W |
Zerelia East[3] | Thessaly, Greece | 150 m | 7000 (at least) | 39°09′43″N 22°42′51″E / 39.16194°N 22.71417°E |
Zerelia West[3] | Thessaly, Greece | 250 m | 7000 (at least) | 39°09′48″N 22°42′32″E / 39.16333°N 22.70889°E |
See also
edit- Bolide
- Impact crater
- Impact event
- Traces of Catastrophe – book from Lunar and Planetary Institute - comprehensive reference on impact crater science
References
edit- ^ Cohen, Benjamin E.; Mark, Darren F.; Lee, Martin R.; Simpson, Sarah L. (2017-08-01). "A new high-precision 40Ar/39Ar age for the Rochechouart impact structure: At least 5 Ma older than the Triassic–Jurassic boundary". Meteoritics & Planetary Science. 52 (8): 1600–1611. Bibcode:2017M&PS...52.1600C. doi:10.1111/maps.12880. hdl:10023/10787. ISSN 1945-5100.
- ^ Stewart SA, Allen PJ (2002). "A 20-km-diameter multi-ringed impact structure in the North Sea". Nature. 418 (6897): 520–3. Bibcode:2002Natur.418..520S. doi:10.1038/nature00914. PMID 12152076. S2CID 4381323.
- ^ a b Dietrich, V. J.; Lagios, E.; Reusser, E.; Sakkas, V.; Gartzos, E.; Kyriakopoulos, K. (2013). "The enigmatic Zerelia twin-lakes (Thessaly, Central Greece): two potential meteorite impact Craters". Solid Earth Discussions. 5 (2): 1511–1573. Bibcode:2013SolED...5.1511D. doi:10.5194/sed-5-1511-2013. S2CID 56034694.
External links
edit- Earth Impact Database – List of confirmed earth impact sites at the Planetary and Space Science Centre, University of New Brunswick
- Impact Database (formerly Suspected Earth Impact Sites list) maintained by David Rajmon for Impact Field Studies Group, USA