Question

Why are there no 10 km impact craters in washington state

Answer 1

No 10 km impact craters are present in Washington State because Earth's atmosphere stops or breaks up small impactors and Earth's geoactivity erases old craters over time.

The reason there are no 10 km impact craters in Washington State, or are very rare on Earth, is because the Earth's atmosphere provides significant protection against smaller impactors. Craters of that size are typically formed by objects about 1 km in diameter, which are usually stopped or broken up by the atmosphere before they can reach the surface.

Moreover, Earth is geologically active, meaning its surface is constantly being recycled through processes like volcanism and plate tectonics. Older craters can be eroded or covered by these geological processes.

The rate of crater formation on Earth cannot be directly measured due to the long intervals between large impacts, but estimates from lunar crater counts and current asteroid and comet populations suggest it's a rare event.

Answer 2

The reason is because the Earth's surface is dynamic and relatively youthful due to ongoing geological activity (option B).

What is the reason for the absence?

The absence of 10 km impact craters in Washington State is likely due to Earth's geological activity and the relatively young age of its surface. Geological processes such as erosion, tectonic activity, and weathering continuously reshape the Earth's landscape, preventing the preservation of large impact craters.

The constant renewal of the surface through geological mechanisms limits the visibility of such ancient impact features in the region.

The answer is: option B.

Complete Question:

There are currently no 10 km craters in Washington State. Why are there no 10 km impact craters in Washington state? (Note: an impactor that leaves a 10 km diameter crater is as large as a city. Large/larger than downtown Seattle.)

A. Impactors that leave a 10 km diameter crater burn up upon entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

B. Earth is geoactive; the surface is young.

C. The magnetic field protects us from the impacts.

D. Aliens reset the Earths surface every 2024 years.