GPR inspection of the Chelyabinsk meteorite impact site at the Chebarkul Lake bottom

Abstract

A big fragment of Chelyabinsk meteorite (February 15, 2013) fell to the western part of Chebarkul Lake, South Ural, Russia, making a breach in the ice cover. Field measurements done during March 12-14, 2013 revealed a steep dip of the hard bottom, west of the ice-hole. This bottom anomaly, accompanied by a local perturbation of the lower ice surface, has been interpreted as the meteorite impact site. Subsequent excavation of a 650 kg boulder with melted surface confirmed our hypothesis.