Asteroid ocean strike could strip away ozone layer ­– expert

A medium-sized asteroid plunging into the ocean would destroy much of the ozone layer, leaving the earth exposed to dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation, it was claimed.

The impact from a space rock 500 metres to one kilometre in diameter would send vast amounts of water into the atmosphere, according to United States expert Elisabetta Pierazzo.

Seawater chemicals such as chloride and bromide would strip away significant amounts of ozone, which provides a shield against very harmful sun rays.

The result would be a huge spike in ultraviolet radiation levels at the earth’s surface.

People with fair skins would find their skin burning after just a few minutes of sun exposure.

Farmers would have difficulty growing crops, and rates of skin cancer and cataracts would be likely to rise.

Previous research looking at the effects of an oceanic asteroid impact has focused on the danger of tsunamis.

Dr Pierazzo’s new work, published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, used computer simulations to model the effects on atmospheric ozone.