NEOImpactor - a tool for assessing Earth's vulnerability to the NEO impact hazard

Bailey, N.J., Swinerd, G.G., Lewis, H.G. and Crowther, R. (2009) NEOImpactor - a tool for assessing Earth's vulnerability to the NEO impact hazard. 1st IAA Planetary Defense Conference: Protecting Earth from Asteroids, Granada, Spain. 26 - 29 Apr 2009. 8 pp .

Abstract

In order to understand the near Earth object (NEO) hazard, a clear appreciation of the consequences resulting from an asteroid impact is required. To analyse the entire impact event, three processes require modeling: the atmospheric entry phase, land impact events and ocean impact events. A range of impact generated effects (IGEs) are produced by different impact scenarios. It is these IGEs that present the significant hazard to human populations world wide, and the infrastructure they utilise. To examine the social and economic consequences from land and ocean impacts, a software system for analysing the NEO threat has been developed, entitled NEOimpactor. By combining existing mathematical models for the three impact processes into one complete system, NEOimpactor has the capacity to model the various effects of a terrestrial asteroid impact and, critically, predict the consequences for the global population and infrastructure. Analysis of multiple impact simulations provides a robust method for the provision of an integrated, global vulnerability assessment of the NEO hazard. The primary graphical outputs from NEOimpactor are in the form of relative consequence maps. These are designed to maximise understanding, enabling them to be used widely by a non-specialist audience. Using a series of multiple-impact simulations, the system has identified the five countries most at risk from the impact hazard, as well as indicating the various factors influencing vulnerability. These results can be fed directly into the international decision-making processes regarding the global NEO threat

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Contributors

Author: H.G. Lewis

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