Asteroid ocean strike ‘could strip away ozone layer’

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 yesterday.

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

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