Asteroid and comet impacts and airbursts can have significant effects on the Earth's environment and can cause major changes to the planet's ecosystems and climate. The effects of these events can vary widely depending on the size and composition of the asteroid or comet: The Great Flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, AD 536, and the Chicago and Midwester fires of 1871.The Great Flood is one of the most debated events in terms of its cause. While some scholars suggest the the flood was a purely mythological or allegorical story, others suggest that there may have been an historical basis for it. Some scientists have suggested that a major flood could have been caused by the impact of a comet or asteroid, although the evidence for this is largely speculative.The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is another event that has been linked to the possibility of an asteroid or comet impact. According to some interpretations of the biblical story, the cities were destroyed by 'brimstone and fire' raining down from the sky, which some researchers suggest could be consistent with as asteroid or comet impact. However, there is little physical evidence to support this hypothesis.The year AD 536 was marked by a sudden and prolonged cooling of the Earth's climate, which has been linked to a variety of possible causes, including a volcanic eruption or asteroid impact. Some researchers have suggested that an asteroid or comet impact could have caused a 'nuclear winter' effect, blocking out the sun's light and causing widespread cooling.Finally, the Chicago and Midwester fires of 1871 were caused by a combination of dry weather, strong winds and human activity, rather than as asteroid or comet impact.