Terrain Effect on Impact Cratering

Abstract—The results of numerical simulation of kilometer-sized asteroid impacts on different types of terrain (a flat surface, a mountain, and a depression) are presented. The results show that terrain features significantly affect the amplitude of the shock wave propagating along the surface, the fireball size, the radiation fluxes on the surface, and the distribution of ejecta around the crater. This effect is significant if terrain inhomogeneities are equal to or larger than the impactor in size.