A proposed cosmogenic structure (astrobleme) on the Barents Sea bottom

Abstract

Remote sensing technique has been applied to studies of a flat-bottom depression encircled with fragmentary rampart on the northern Barents Sea shelf. The depression is 17 by 11 km large and 90 m deep, the circular rampart is 15 to 30 m high. As revealed by seismic profiles, Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous sediments have been destroyed or disturbed, while deeper layers have been fractured. The Quaternary cover seems undisturbed. The described morphosculpture named «Lunin astrobleme» was presumably due to meteorite impact at the time of the Pleistocene glacial maximum when the shelf was dry.