ASTEROID IMPACTS OR NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF BLACK SEA AND RISKS FOR POISONING THE INLAND POPULATION

Abstract

The impact of a large asteroid or a nuclear explosion in Black Sea may cause a catastrophic poisonous gas ( H2S ) release in the atmosphere. Some effects of this phenomenon are evaluated. The land surface area covered by the H2S cloud generated by a 1,000 m size asteroid ranges between about 5,760 km2and 9,920 km2. This may affect between 1,400,000 and 2,470,000 people. In case of a 70 m size asteroid, the cloud covers between 105 km2and 210 km2and 26,000 to 52,000 people may be affected. The evaluations may be a few times underestimated for some particular wind directions. Nuclear explosions of 1 Mton and 50 Mton TNT may be assimilated to the impact by asteroids of about 33 m and 120 m diameter, respectively. The social effects of these events may be diminished if some general procedures are implemented.