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Asteroids are just the latest element to make predicting the weather difficult. Specifically there are two asteroids, Ceres and Vesta, which are large enough to wreak havoc in earth’s atmosphere. These giant asteroids are large enough to interact with the other planets in Earth’s solar system and in turn this affects the weather. It also makes predicting the weather difficult as shifts in these asteroids flight path may cause weather patterns to change.
In addition to changing weather patterns, asteroids could have a huge effect on the planet if absorbed improperly into Earth’s orbit. A worst case scenario involving an asteroid would entail a direct impact with the Earth. A giant asteroid could cause mass extinction shortly after contact with the planet; a problem much more serious than weather forecasts. The impact from an asteroid would likely cause either a cooling of the globe or an extreme heating of the world. In either case, many lives would likely be lost and there would be impending fallout after the first death toll.
In addition, there would be ground shocks and dust kicked into the atmosphere could make air difficult to breathe. There would also likely be mass fires and tremendous atmospheric pressure. Luckily, there is little fear from astronomers of a direct asteroid hit that would harm the planet. We will likely only be inconvenienced by inaccurate weather forecasts caused by the shifting of these two major asteroids and don’t need to fear an asteroid destroying the planet and life as we know it.
