Toms Canyon impact crater facts for kids
| Impact crater/structure | |
|---|---|
| Confidence | probable |
| Diameter | 13.7 mi (22 km) |
| Age | 35 million years |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 39°08′N 73°13′W / 39.13°N 73.21°W |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
The Toms Canyon impact crater is a huge bowl-shaped mark on the ocean floor. Scientists believe it was made when one or more space rocks, called asteroids, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. This happened on the continental shelf, which is the edge of the continent that is underwater.
The crater is located about 100 miles (160 km) east of Atlantic City, New Jersey. It's a fascinating underwater feature that tells us about Earth's past.
What is the Toms Canyon Crater?
The Toms Canyon crater is a giant dent in the seabed. It is thought to be an impact crater, which means it was formed by something hitting the Earth from space. This particular crater is underwater, on the Atlantic continental shelf.
It's named after the nearby Toms River. The "canyon" part refers to a deep valley on the ocean floor. This valley was once the mouth of the Toms River during the Ice Age, when sea levels were much lower.
When Did the Impact Happen?
This amazing event happened about 35 million years ago. This time period is known as the late Eocene geological time. That's a very long time before humans existed!
Scientists think the Toms Canyon impact might be connected to other big impacts. For example, the much larger Chesapeake Bay impact crater also formed around the same time. The Chesapeake Bay crater is about 200 miles (320 km) southwest of Toms Canyon. Some scientists even wonder if the Popigai crater in Siberia could be related. This suggests a possibility that several space rocks hit Earth around the same period.
How Was the Crater Discovered?
Scientists from the USGS found the Toms Canyon crater. They used a special method called seismic reflection. This method uses sound waves to create images of what's beneath the ocean floor. It's like using an echo to map out hidden structures.
The seismic images showed that the crater was likely formed by an object hitting the Earth at a slanted angle. It probably came from the southwest. This kind of impact creates a long, oval-shaped crater.
Over millions of years, the crater has been partly filled with sediment. Sediment is made of sand, mud, and other tiny bits of rock that settle on the ocean floor. Because of this sediment, the crater now looks more like a triangle.
