List of meteor air bursts

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World map of bolide events (1994–2013)[1]

Many explosions have been recorded in Earth's atmosphere that are likely caused by the air burst that results from a meteor burning up as it hits the atmosphere. These types of meteors are also known as fireballs (or bolides) with the brightest known as superbolides. Contrary to common "shooting stars", these larger meteors were originally asteroids and comets of a few to several tens of meters in diameter before impacting with Earth's atmosphere.

The best known, and most spectacular was the 1908 Tunguska event. The appearance of extremely bright fireballs traveling across the sky is often witnessed from afar, such as the 2012 Sutter's Mill meteorite and 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor. Modern developments in infrasound detection by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and infrared DSP satellite technology have reduced the likelihood of undetected airbursts.

Events

Date Location Coordinates Energy
(TNT equivalent)		 Height of explosion Notes
April 4, 1490 (1490-04-04) Qìngyáng district, Shaanxi Province, China The Ch'ing-yang event is a presumed atmospheric entry air burst in the Qìngyáng district of the then-Chinese province of Shaanxi. If a meteor shower did occur, it may have been the result of the disintegration of an asteroid during an atmospheric entry air burst. A large number of deaths were recorded in historical Chinese accounts of the meteor shower.[2][3]
June 30, 1908 (1908-06-30) 60 kilometres (37 mi) west-northwest of Vanavara[4] in Yeniseysk Governorate, Russian Empire Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 10–15 megatonnes of TNT (42,000–63,000 TJ) 8.5 km (5.3 mi) Tunguska event (Largest witnessed meteor airburst to date)
November 26, 1919 (1919-11-26) Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana, USA Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. A gigantic meteor was seen approaching from the east. A brilliant flash of light, thunder and an earthquake lasting 3 minutes were reported. Considerable damage to property and broken windows were reported over a very large area as well as disruption to telegraph, telephone and electrical power systems.[5]
August 13, 1930 (1930-08-13) Curuçá River Area, Amazonas, Brazil Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 9–5,000 kilotonnes of TNT (38–20,920 TJ) Generally assumed to be generated by three meteor fragments. An astrobleme of 1 km was found on the ground, but may be related to an older feature.[6][7][8][9][10] It is also known as Brazilian Tunguska or Curuçá Event.[8]
June 24, 1938 (1938-06-24) Chicora, Pennsylvania United States On June 24, 1938 a meteorite fell in the vicinity of Chicora. Named the "Chicora Meteor", the 450+ tonne meteorite exploded approximately twelve miles above the Earth's surface.[11]
April 9, 1941 (1941-04-09) Ural mountains, Katav-Ivanovo district of Chelyabinsk region Russia ru:Катавский болид (Katavsky bolide). Residents of several localities had seen a fireball flying at a high speed in the dark sky, followed by roaring likened to the sound of a speeding steam locomotive. Fragments were left as a result of the event.[citation needed]
February 12, 1947 (1947-02-12) Sikhote-Alin Mountains in eastern Siberia, Primorsky Krai, Russia Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 10 kilotonnes of TNT (42 TJ) Sikhote-Alin meteorite. Estimated explosive yield of 10 kt equivalent.[12]
August 3, 1963 (1963-08-03) Approximately 1,900 kilometres (1,200 mi) south of South Africa Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 176–356 kilotonnes of TNT (740–1,490 TJ) A bolide was detected infrasonically approximately 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) west-south-west of the Prince Edward Islands off the coast of South Africa by a U.S. government instrument network designed to detect atmospheric explosions.[13]
March 31, 1965 (1965-03-31) Revelstoke, British Columbia 0.6 kilotonnes of TNT (2.5 TJ) 13 km (8 mi) 1 g (0.035 oz) material from meteorite found. Sometimes placed in Southeastern Canada on May 31.[14]
September 17, 1966 (1966-09-17) Lake Huron, Michigan–Ontario 0.6 kilotonnes of TNT (2.5 TJ) 13 km (8 mi) No material from meteorite found. Photographed bolide body.[15]
February 5, 1967 (1967-02-05) Vilna, Alberta 0.6 kilotonnes of TNT (2.5 TJ) 13 km (8 mi) Two very small fragments found - 48 milligrams (0.0017 oz) and 94 milligrams (0.0033 oz). Stored at University of Alberta, in Edmonton.[16] Photographed.[17]
January 19, 1993 (1993-01-19) Lugo, Northern Italy >10 kilotonnes of TNT (42 TJ) 30 km Superbolide airburst caused by the breakup of a low density meteoroid traveling at approximately 26 km/s.[18]
January 18, 1994 (1994-01-18) Cando, Spain Cando event. A bolide at 7:15 UT that was 1,000 times less energetic than the Tunguska event.
February 1, 1994 (1994-02-01) 300 km south of Kosrae, Micronesia Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 11 kilotonnes of TNT (46 TJ) 21–34 km (13–21 mi) Marshall Islands fireball (4–14 meters in diameter). Two fragments exploded at 34 km and 21 km of altitude. This impact was observed by space based infrared (IR) sensors operated by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and by visible wavelength sensors operated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).[19]
December 9, 1997 (1997-12-09) 150 km south of Nuuk, Greenland Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. >0.064 kilotonnes of TNT (0.27 TJ) >25 km (16 mi) One airburst at 46 km, three more breakups detected between 25 and 30 km. No remains found so far. Yield only based on luminosity, i.e. the total energy might have been considerably larger.[20]
November 8, 1999 (1999-11-08) Northern Germany 1.5 kt Detected by the Deelen Infrasound Array in the Netherlands[21]
January 18, 2000 (2000-01-18) over Whitehorse, Yukon Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 1.7 kiloton[22] One airburst at ~08:00, fragments recovered on Tagish Lake.[23]
April 23, 2001 (2001-04-23) North Pacific Ocean few kt Infrasound detection.[24] Meteor estimated to be 2–3 meters in diameter.[25] Occurred 1,800 km away from the Scripps detector.
June 6, 2002 (2002-06-06) Mediterranean Sea, 230 km north-northeast of Benghazi, Libya Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 12–26 kilotonnes of TNT (50–109 TJ)[22][26][27] 2002 Eastern Mediterranean event
September 25, 2002 (2002-09-25) The Vitim River basin near the town of Bodaybo, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 0.2–2 kilotonnes of TNT (0.84–8.37 TJ) 30 km Vitim event or Bodaybo event[28]
September 3, 2004 (2004-09-03) 200 km offshore Queen Maud Land, Antarctica Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 12 kilotonnes of TNT (50 TJ) 28–30 km (17–19 mi) Asteroid 7–10 meters in diameter. Coordinates are for dust trail observed an hour after event by NASA's Aqua satellite. Event was observed also by military satellites and by infrasound stations. Dust was observed 7 hours after event by LIDAR in Davis Station.[29]
October 7, 2004 (2004-10-07) Indian Ocean 10–20 kilotons Infrasound detection[24]
December 9, 2006 (2006-12-09) Egypt 10–20 kilotons Infrasound detection[24]
September 28, 2007 (2007-09-28) Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland 40 km (25 mi) Superbolide that was observed as far as northern Lapland.[30] Meteoritic material was suspected to have landed southeast of Oulu but none has been found.[citation needed]
October 7, 2008 (2008-10-07) Nubian Desert, Sudan Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 0.9–2.1 kilotonnes of TNT (3.8–8.8 TJ) 37 km (23 mi) 2008 TC3, the first asteroid detected before impacting Earth.
October 8, 2009 (2009-10-08) coastal region of Bone Regency in South Sulawesi, Indonesia Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 31–50 kilotonnes of TNT (130–210 TJ) 25 km (16 mi) 2009 Sulawesi superbolide. No meteoritic material found (most likely fell into the ocean).[31] Occurred ~03:00 UTC; ~11:00 local time.[31]
November 21, 2009 (2009-11-21) Zimbabwe Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 18 kt 38 km (24 mi) Impacted going 32.1 km/s (19.9 mi/s).[32] There were 56 witnesses of the bolide and two seismic recorder detections.[33]
September 3, 2010 (2010-09-03) South Pacific Ocean >20 kilotons Infrasound detection[24]
December 25, 2010 (2010-12-25) North Pacific Ocean Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 33 kt 26 km (16 mi)[32]
April 22, 2012 (2012-04-22) air burst centered near La Grange, California Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 4 kilotonnes of TNT (17 TJ) [34] 30–47 km [35] Sutter's Mill meteorite. Numerous fragments from object recovered. Analysis determined it was a Carbonaceous chondrite.
February 15, 2013 (2013-02-15) near Chelyabinsk, Russia Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 500 kilotonnes of TNT (2,100 TJ) [36] Estimated 30–50 km [37] Chelyabinsk meteor[38] (Largest meteor airburst known since Tunguska in 1908)
April 21, 2013 (2013-04-21) Argentina Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 2.5 kt 40.7 km (25.3 mi)[32] The bolide was captured on video at a Los Tekis rock concert.[39]
April 30, 2013 (2013-04-30) North Atlantic Ocean Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 10–20 kilotons 21.2 km (13.2 mi) Infrasound detection.[24] Largest airburst event since Chelyabinsk.[32]
November 26, 2013 (2013-11-26) heard in Montreal, Ottawa, and New York state[40][41][42][43] < 1 tonne of TNT (< 4.2 GJ)[44] Montreal bolide
January 2, 2014 (2014-01-02) mid-Atlantic Ocean Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 2014 AA, the second asteroid detected before Earth impact.[45]
February 18, 2014 (2014-02-18) Argentina Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 0.1 kt[32] Even though this was a low-energy event, there were reports of windows/buildings shaking.[46]
May 8, 2014 (2014-05-08) South Indian Ocean Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 2.4 kt 35.4 km (22.0 mi)[32] 2nd largest airburst of 2014.
June 26, 2014 (2014-06-26) Antarctica Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 0.2 kt 28.5 km (17.7 mi)[32]
August 23, 2014 (2014-08-23) Southern Ocean Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 7.6 kt 22.2 km (13.8 mi)[32] Largest airburst of 2014 and 2nd largest since Chelyabinsk.
September 7, 2015 (2015-09-07) Bangkok, Thailand Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 3.9 kt 29.3 km (18.2 mi)[32] 2015 Thailand meteor daylight bolide around 08:40 local time (UTC+7). Caught on at least 9 videos of dash and helmet cams online[47][48]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Yau, K., Weissman, P., & Yeomans, D. Meteorite Falls In China And Some Related Human Casualty Events, Meteoritics, Vol. 29, No. 6, pp. 864-871, ISSN: 0026-1114, bibliographic code: 1994Metic..29..864Y.
  3. ↑ Death from above in ancient China, Sky & Telescope, March 1995, Vol. 89, Iss. 3, p. 15, ISSN: 00376604.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ The Washington Times (Washington, D.C.) 1919 Nov 27 page 1b
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ No. 1102: METEORITE AT CURUÇA By John H. Lienhard The Engines of Our Ingenuity
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 THE EVENT NEAR THE CURUÇÁ RIVER. 67th Annual Meteoritical Society Meeting (2004)
  9. ↑ The Day the Earth Trembled by John McFarland Armagh Observatory
  10. ↑ http://www.comciencia.br/reportagens/espaco/espc17.htm
  11. ↑ http://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/3495296-74/meteor-chicora-1938
  12. ↑ [1]
  13. ↑ "Estimates of meteoroid kinetic energies from observations of infrasonic airwaves" Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 68 (2006) pages 1136–1160 [2]
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ The spectacular airburst over (Lugo) Italy on January 19, 1993
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Greenland meteor at goes.gsfc.nasa.gov
  21. ↑ July 2002 Asteroid/Comet News
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (table #1)
  23. ↑ January 18, 2000 Yukon/Northern BC Fireball (The Tagish Lake Meteorite)
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 B612 list of infrasound detections from 2000-2013
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Near-Earth objects dangerous, general says BBC News, September 9, 2002.
  27. ↑ Cambridge Conference Correspondence. Asteroids 'could spark a nuclear war'
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Cosmic hole-in-one: capturing dust from a meteoroid's fiery demise Australian Antarctic Magazine, issue 8 Autumn 2005
  30. ↑ http://yle.fi/uutiset/super-meteor_lights_up_northern_sky/5803349
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 32.7 32.8 Fireball and Bolide Reports (JPL)
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ http://www.rgj.com/article/20120423/NEWS/304230032/Scientist-says-sound-signal-from-exploding-meteor-lasted-18-minutes
  35. ↑ http://science.kqed.org/quest/2012/12/20/stardust-and-sunbreath-in-the-sutters-mill-meteorite/
  36. ↑ http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-061
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Bright Meteor Rocks Argentina Rock Concert
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ The First Discovered Asteroid of 2014 Collides With The Earth - An Update
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. INERC
  47. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RavHx9peVM Meteor Meteor over Bangkok, Thailand, 7 September 2015, youtube.com (video 00:51, 7 sights, review of youtube) 07 September 2015, retrieved 08 September 2015.
  48. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvBWiz7z6_Y Meteor Fireball Falls in Bangkok Thailand 09/07/201 (Different Angles) VIDEO, youtube.com (video 04:04, 2 sights, repeated) 07 September 2015, retrieved 08 September 2015.

Further reading

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External links

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