Processed multichannel seismic data across the Chicxulub impact structure on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, acquired during the R/V Maurice Ewing survey EW0501 (2005)

This combined reflection-refraction seismic experiment was a joint project between UTIG, University of Arizona, Imperial College (UK), Cambridge University (UK), UNAM (Mexico), and CICY (Mexico). The goals were: 1) to determine the direction of approach and angle of the Chicxulub impact as modeling has shown that a 15-20 time greater amount of airborne particles are produced by low-angle impacts; 2) to map the deformation (faults and broken rock) recorded in the upper crust near the crater center that may explain the way the surface of the Earth is damaged by large meteor or comet impacts; 3) to image the key features in the northwest portion of the crater to enable better understanding of the Chicxulub impact structure and prepare for possible future sampling to examine the melted and shattered rocks deep within the crater; 4) to model the 3-D collapse of the crater to examine both the deformation and the environmental effects of the impact to better understand how such an impact can cause worldwide mass extinctions. Funded by NSF grants OCE02-21101 and OCE02-20474, the Natural Environment Research Council, UK, and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.