In a crazy discovery, the University of Liverpool's news researchers found what led to the evolution of a gigantic underwater avalanche around 60,000 years ago and how it led to destruction.&nbsp;

More than 300 core samples taken from the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean off the North West coast of Africa more than 40 years ago were used by the team. 
&nbsp; 
The scientists combined the area's bathymetry and seismic data and created a map of the avalanche as it turned from a small underwater landslide into a devastating climactic event.

“This is the first time anyone has managed to map out an entire individual underwater avalanche of this size and calculate its growth factor,” said Chris Stevenson, who is co-leader of the team and a sedimentologist from the University of Liverpool’s School of Environmental Sciences, in a&nbsp;statement.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/are-deep-seas-on-earth-hiding-alien-life-amid-dark-oxygen-study-hints-so-753986">Are deep seas on Earth hiding alien life amid 'dark oxygen'? Study hints so</a>

“What is so interesting is how the event grew from a relatively small start into a huge and devastating submarine avalanche,” he added, further explaining, “reaching heights of 200 meters [656 feet] as it moved at a speed of about 15 m/s [49 feet/second] ripping out the sea floor and tearing everything out in its way.”

<h2>How destructive was the underwater avalanche mapped by scientists?</h2>

The ancient underwater avalanche, which has been mapped by scientists, started at only 1.5 cubic kilometres (0.36 cubic miles) in volume, but later it turned massive and became a huge and powerful avalanche that eventually eroded one of the largest submarine canyons in the world, which was known as the Agadir Canyon, along with almost 4,500 square kilometres (1,738 square miles) of the canyon walls.

“To put it in perspective: that’s an avalanche the size of a skyscraper, moving at more than 40 mph [64 kmph] from Liverpool to London, which digs out a trench 30 m [98 feet] deep and 15 km [9.3 miles] wide, destroying everything in its path,” said Stevenson.

“Then it spreads across an area larger than the UK, burying it under about a metre of sand and mud," he added.

Speaking about the study, the head of Marine Geophysics at Kiel University, Sebastian Krastel, said, “Our new insight fundamentally challenges how we view these events."

Watch:&nbsp;Thick, voluminous clouds descend on Swiss Alps

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/thick-voluminous-clouds-descend-on-swiss-alps-754119/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“Before this study, we thought that big avalanches only came from big slope failures. But now, we know that they can start small and grow into extremely powerful and extensive giant events," he added.

The scientists noted that the prehistoric avalanche grew by around 12-25 times larger than a normal avalanche.

“We calculate the growth factor to be at least 100,” said Christoph Bottner, who is the co-leader of the team and a Marie-Curie research fellow at Aarhus University in Denmark.&nbsp;

“We have also seen this extreme growth in smaller submarine avalanches measured elsewhere,” said Bottner. “So we think this might be a specific behaviour associated with underwater avalanches and is something we plan to investigate further," he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a crazy discovery, the University of Liverpool's news researchers found what led to the evolution of a gigantic underwater avalanche around 60,000 years ago and how it led to destruction.

In a crazy discovery, the University of Liverpool's news researchers found what led to the evolution of a gigantic underwater avalanche around 60,000 years ago and how it led to destruction. More than 300 core samples taken from the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean off the North West coast of Africa more than 40 years ago were used by the team. The scientists combined the area's bathymetry and seismic data and created a map of the avalanche as it turned from a small underwater landslide into a devastating climactic event. “This is the first time anyone has managed to map out an entire individual underwater avalanche of this size and calculate its growth factor,” said Chris Stevenson, who is co-leader of the team and a sedimentologist from the University of Liverpool’s School of Environmental Sciences, in a statement. Also Read: Are deep seas on Earth hiding alien life amid 'dark oxygen'? Study hints so “What is so interesting is how the event grew from a relatively small start into a huge and devastating submarine avalanche,” he added, further explaining, “reaching heights of 200 meters [656 feet] as it moved at a speed of about 15 m/s [49 feet/second] ripping out the sea floor and tearing everything out in its way.” How destructive was the underwater avalanche mapped by scientists? The ancient underwater avalanche, which has been mapped by scientists, started at only 1.5 cubic kilometres (0.36 cubic miles) in volume, but later it turned massive and became a huge and powerful avalanche that eventually eroded one of the largest submarine canyons in the world, which was known as the Agadir Canyon, along with almost 4,500 square kilometres (1,738 square miles) of the canyon walls. “To put it in perspective: that’s an avalanche the size of a skyscraper, moving at more than 40 mph [64 kmph] from Liverpool to London, which digs out a trench 30 m [98 feet] deep and 15 km [9.3 miles] wide, destroying everything in its path,” said Stevenson. “Then it spreads across an area larger than the UK, burying it under about a metre of sand and mud," he added. Speaking about the study, the head of Marine Geophysics at Kiel University, Sebastian Krastel, said, “Our new insight fundamentally challenges how we view these events." Watch: Thick, voluminous clouds descend on Swiss Alps “Before this study, we thought that big avalanches only came from big slope failures. But now, we know that they can start small and grow into extremely powerful and extensive giant events," he added. The scientists noted that the prehistoric avalanche grew by around 12-25 times larger than a normal avalanche. “We calculate the growth factor to be at least 100,” said Christoph Bottner, who is the co-leader of the team and a Marie-Curie research fellow at Aarhus University in Denmark. “We have also seen this extreme growth in smaller submarine avalanches measured elsewhere,” said Bottner. “So we think this might be a specific behaviour associated with underwater avalanches and is something we plan to investigate further," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists create first map of a gigantic ancient underwater avalanche

The space agency NASA is on an alert and has issued a warning regarding a gigantic&nbsp; asteroid, which has been&nbsp;named&nbsp;2024 MT1.

The asteroid is hurtling towards&nbsp;Earth at an accelerated speed of 65,215 km/h.&nbsp;

The asteroid, which approximately measures 260 feet in diameter, is nearly the size of the&nbsp;Statue of Liberty. It has been estimated that the asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth on July 8.

<h2>When was asteroid 2024 MT1 first detected?</h2>

NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Programme, which tracks and characterises asteroids and comets which come closer to the Earth, first detected asteroid 2024 MT1.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-spots-large-asteroid-with-moon-orbiting-it-as-it-makes-close-flyby-earth-738302">NASA spots large asteroid with moon orbiting it, as it makes close flyby Earth</a>

Various ground-based telescopes and radar systems are used by the programme for monitoring these objects.&nbsp;

Asteroid 2024 MT1 has been concerning scientists because of its size and speed, however, NASA has said that Earth does not face any threat of collision as of now.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has closely monitored the trajectory of the asteroid in Pasadena, California.

JPL’s&nbsp;Asteroid Watch dashboard gives real-time data on the position, speed, and distance of the asteroid from Earth.

The JPL stated that 2024 MT1 will pass by Earth at a distance of approximately 937,000 miles (1.5 million kilometres).

Scientists consider such enormous-sized asteroids as potentially hazardous because they can cause significant damage if they collide with Earth.

<h2>How this asteroid will impact Earth?</h2>

It is expected that the asteroid can lead to widespread devastation, massive explosions, fires, and tsunamis.&nbsp;

NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) has been laying out a plan to mitigate such threats.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;PDCO&nbsp;works with international space agencies and research institutions to create technologies for impact prevention and asteroid deflection.

Watch:&nbsp;Asteroid 2024 MK passes Earth at 300,000 km

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/asteroid-2024-mk-passes-earth-at-300000-km-736813/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

They are exploring a technology called the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission that aims to test the feasibility of deflecting the asteroid coming towards Earth by crashing a spacecraft into it.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The space agency NASA is on an alert and has issued a warning regarding a gigantic asteroid, which has been named 2024 MT1. The asteroid is hurtling towards Earth at an accelerated speed of 65,215 km/h.

The space agency NASA is on an alert and has issued a warning regarding a gigantic asteroid, which has been named 2024 MT1. The asteroid is hurtling towards Earth at an accelerated speed of 65,215 km/h. The asteroid, which approximately measures 260 feet in diameter, is nearly the size of the Statue of Liberty. It has been estimated that the asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth on July 8. When was asteroid 2024 MT1 first detected? NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Programme, which tracks and characterises asteroids and comets which come closer to the Earth, first detected asteroid 2024 MT1. Also Read: NASA spots large asteroid with moon orbiting it, as it makes close flyby Earth Various ground-based telescopes and radar systems are used by the programme for monitoring these objects. Asteroid 2024 MT1 has been concerning scientists because of its size and speed, however, NASA has said that Earth does not face any threat of collision as of now. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has closely monitored the trajectory of the asteroid in Pasadena, California. JPL’s Asteroid Watch dashboard gives real-time data on the position, speed, and distance of the asteroid from Earth. The JPL stated that 2024 MT1 will pass by Earth at a distance of approximately 937,000 miles (1.5 million kilometres). Scientists consider such enormous-sized asteroids as potentially hazardous because they can cause significant damage if they collide with Earth. How this asteroid will impact Earth? It is expected that the asteroid can lead to widespread devastation, massive explosions, fires, and tsunamis. NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) has been laying out a plan to mitigate such threats. The PDCO works with international space agencies and research institutions to create technologies for impact prevention and asteroid deflection. Watch: Asteroid 2024 MK passes Earth at 300,000 km They are exploring a technology called the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission that aims to test the feasibility of deflecting the asteroid coming towards Earth by crashing a spacecraft into it. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA is on alert as gigantic asteroid, size of Statue of Liberty, is hurtling towards Earth at 65,215 kmph

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