Comet/Asteroid Impacts and Human Society An Interdisciplinary Approach [Hardcover]

Leading specialists in various disciplines were first invited to a multidisciplinary workshop funded by ICSU on the topic to gain a better appreciation and perspective on the subject of comet/asteroid impacts as viewed by different disciplines. This volume provides a necessary link between various disciplines and comet/asteroid impacts.

In 1908 an atmospheric explosion in northern Siberia released energy equivalent to 15 Mton of TNT. Can a comparable or larger NEO affect us again? When the next NEO strikes Earth will it be large enough to destroy a city? Will the climate change significantly? Can archaeology and anthropology provide insights into the expected cultural responses with NEO interactions? Does society have a true grasp of the actual risks involved? Is the Great Depression a good model for the economic collapse that could follow a NEO catastrophe? This volume provides a necessary link between various disciplines and comet/asteroid impacts.

Anthropology, Archaeology, Geology.- The Geologic Record of Destructive Impact Events on Earth.- The Archaeology and Anthropology of Quaternary Period Cosmic Impact.- The Sky on the Ground: Celestial Objects and Events in Archaeology and Popular Culture.- Umm al Binni Structure, Southern Iraq, as a Postulated Late Holocene Meteorite Impact Crater.- Tree-Rings Indicate Global Environmental Downturns that could have been Caused by Comet Debris.- The GGE Threat: Facing and Coping with Global Geophysical Events.- Astronomy and Physical Implications.- The Asteroid Impact Hazard and Interdisciplinary Issues.- The Impact Hazard: Advanced NEO Surveys and Societal Responses.- Understanding the Near-Earth Object Population: the 2004 Perspective.- Physical Properties of NEOs and Risks of an Impact: Current Knowledge and Future Challenges.- Evaluating the Risk of Impacts and the Efficiency of Risk Reduction.- Physical Effects of Comet and Asteroid Impacts: Beyond the Crater Rim.- Frequent Ozone DlC.