Meteor over the Uk

[TommyJ]

I've heard speculation about more than 1.2 billion debris less than 10 cm in size. Apparently, this does not count for visible debris. The first service satellite that can get rid of space debris has already been launched. Hopefully, this will be common in the future.

[Joe]

The tricky part is prepping for asteroids etc. Granted the larger ones are tracked but the smaller ones slip through regularly. Even with good access to the net very few people check asteroid tracking sites daily.
Add to this the lack of facilities to avoid an impact event.
If you check your area in great detail you might find an underground tunnel, sewer etc. Luckily I have a very suitable location within 3 minutes of my house which diverts a river underground, I reckon it would survive a fair impact.

[bigpaul]

we probably wouldnt have any warning and if the thing is big enough it wouldnt matter if we did.
if it was as big as the one that wiped out the dinosaurs I'm not sure survival would be possible.
I've got more important events to worry about like how stupid the general public is.

[Mortblanc]

We might have some warning BP.

Just watch for the little yellow chicken running in circles in your garden shouting "THE SKY IS FALLING!"

[TommyJ]

In general, we have tracking and warning systems for asteroids and other space threats. All space agencies have their own specialists and equipment.
Although, in astronomy, the volume of necessary calculations grows faster than the productivity of calculating machines.

[Tartar Horde]

(12 March 2021, 22:56)Joe Wrote: The tricky part is prepping for asteroids etc. Granted the larger ones are tracked but the smaller ones slip through regularly. Even with good access to the net very few people check asteroid tracking sites daily.
Add to this the lack of facilities to avoid an impact event.
If you check your area in great detail you might find an underground tunnel, sewer etc. Luckily I have a very suitable location within 3 minutes of my house which diverts a river underground, I reckon it would survive a fair impact.

The real danger comes from Volcano's. They have caused more devastation for us as a species than anything else. The Toba eruption C-70k-BP caused humanity to experience a genetic bottle neck (scientific speak for not many people around). Asia was devastated and under significant amounts of ash. A 5-6 year Volcanic Winter ensued, and the climate did not stabilise for a1000 years. Recent reports from Icelandic geologists say they are experiencing thousands of Earthquakes a week now
https://en.vedur.is/earthquakes-and-volc...rthquakes/
They fear an imminent eruption. Lets hope Hekla doesn't decide to wake up. In Italy Etna is erupting but it is pretty active anyway and not a real danger. The sleeping giant is Campi Flegrei, a super volcano on the bay of Naples. Previous large eruptions saw 30+mtrs of Ash, Italy as it was then was wiped out. Here's a link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWhOvPsrT7k&t=1248s

[TommyJ]

When magma begins to rise to the volcano's vent, it causes the soil to rise in some places. These changes in topography, although often very small, can be seen from a satellite.

Thus, a satellite system may be able to predict volcanic eruptions.

A lot can depend on completely unobvious things.

[TommyJ]

This means that we need to be able to maintain satellites and remove space debris. We need devices like space tugs
This can help keep other devices in orbit stable. We are now very dependent on satellites.

[bigpaul]

the human race is dependent on a lot of things, it will be their downfall.

[Tartar Horde]

(16 March 2021, 19:53)TommyJ Wrote: When magma begins to rise to the volcano's vent, it causes the soil to rise in some places. These changes in topography, although often very small, can be seen from a satellite.

Thus, a satellite system may be able to predict volcanic eruptions.

A lot can depend on completely unobvious things.

Satellites can measure topography very accurately and they are frequently used. Many new sites have been discovered in Egypt using them. Satellite time is expensive though and the military would rather keep their slots open.