Low-altitude airbursts and the impact threat

TL;DR: This work presents a comprehensive review of confirmed, proposed (possible) and disproven impact structures in Africa.

TL;DR: Results from one of the largest spherule investigations ever undertaken regarding spherules geochemistry, morphologies, origins, and processes of formation are presented, consistent with melting of sediments to temperatures >2,200 °C by the thermal radiation and air shocks produced by passage of an extraterrestrial object through the atmosphere.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a comprehensive review of meteor generated shock wave phenomena, from the aspect of both meteor science and hypersonic gas dynamics, and discuss key aspects of both shock generation and propagation, including the importance of hydrodynamic shielding that develops around the meteoroid.

TL;DR: The discovery in Lake Cuitzeo in central Mexico of a black, carbon-rich, lacustrine layer, containing nanodiamonds, microspherules, and other unusual materials that date to the early Younger Dryas and are interpreted to result from an extraterrestrial impact is reported.

TL;DR: The explosion over Tunguska, Central Siberia, in 1908 released 10 to 20 megatons (high explosive equivalent) of energy at an altitude of about 10 km as mentioned in this paper.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors review the astronomical and geologic evidence concerning the history of bombardment and then discuss the physical effects of large impacts, as they may apply to both the inorganic and organic worlds.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed old seismograms of the Tungus event of June 30, 1908 and compared with contemporary records of air explosions from Novaya Zemlya and Lop-Nor.

TL;DR: The layered tektites from Southeast Asia and the Libyan desert glass may have formed by a combination of sedimentation and downslope flow of silicate melt heated by radiation from large aerial bursts, suggesting the existence of aerial bursts one to two orders of magnitude larger still.