In November 2019, scientists unveiled the discovery of a huge impact crater found beneath more than a mile of ice in Greenland.
Along with its immense size, the crater has caused a great deal of controversy due to its implications and mysterious origin. Since the discovery, researchers have scrambled to learn more about this unique formation and the impacts it may have caused to the planet. This article will discuss the details of the impact crater in Greenland, the controversy it has caused, and the potential implications of its discovery.
Unravelling the Mystery Behind the Impact Crater
In November 2019, researchers discovered a 31-mile wide impact crater located beneath the Hiawatha Glacier in northwest Greenland. Although previously shrouded in mystery, the crater’s origin could be traced back to an asteroid impact about 12,000 years ago.
In order to uncover its precise location, scientists first used data from NASA’s Operation IceBridge mission, which allowed them to map the topography beneath the Hiawatha Glacier. Following this, they then examined the ice-covered surface and drilled into the bedrock. It was this inspection that eventually revealed the circular shape of the crater.
The Discovery Causes Uproar
The announcement of the impact crater’s existence caused a flurry amongst researchers and the public alike. On one hand, the crater confirmed that an asteroid had indeed struck the planet, suggesting that a cataclysmic event had occurred so recently in Earth’s history. On the other hand, the positioning of the crater beneath the Hiawatha Glacier ignited a much bigger debate.
Researchers were left wondering: what impact did this have on the climate of the Earth? The crater’s location suggests that the asteroid strike coincided with the beginning of the earth’s last ice age 12,800 years ago, igniting a controversy as to whether or not it could have caused or exacerbated the event.
The Implications of the Impact Crater
The discovery of the impact crater raises several questions about the cultural and environmental impacts of the ice age. Scientists are now focusing on how human populations adapted to the environmental and climatic shifts, and whether or not they were responsible for shifts in the population and migration of animals.
Researchers are also assessing the potential effects of the crater on Earth’s geology, atmospheric chemistry, and ecology. Another area of discussion is the possibility that this crater in particular is the source of iron debris that has been detected on Greenland’s ice sheet – something that could have significant implications for understanding how these types of events have affected our planet over time.
The Costly Unravelling of the Impact Crater
The uncovering of the impact crater has been a costly and time-consuming process. The cost of drilling beneath the Hiawatha Glacier arose to over one million dollars. Moreover, the project took scientists about five years to accomplish, highlighting the resource requirements of such a large-scale project.
The Controversy of Funding for Impact Crater Research
Due to its immense size and location, the finding of the impact crater has set off a debate surrounding the prioritizing of funding for further research. On one side, the crater raises questions that can only be responded to through further extensive data collection, which will require significant resources to achieve.
Meanwhile, opponents of the project argue that funding should be directed towards other areas of research. They believe the proposed project is a waste of money and will provide little to no concrete evidence of the crater’s origins or implications.
The discovery of the impact crater beneath the Hiawatha Glacier in Greenland raises a host of questions surrounding the environmental and climatic implications of the event. While researchers are keen to further investigate the crater and its origins, debates are raging regarding the best use of research funds. The unravelling of this mystery holds many scientific and cultural implications, and will provide valuable insight into our past and the Earth’s changing climate in general.
