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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Atmospheres

 

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  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Middle atmosphere—energy deposition
  • Global Change: Impact phenomena
  • Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Waves and tides
  • Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Stratosphere/troposphere interactions
Abstract
Cited By (8)
 

Abstract

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 107, 4709, 10 PP., 2002
doi:10.1029/2001JD001283

Trail in the atmosphere of the 29 December 2000 meteor as recorded in Tahiti: Characteristics and trajectory reconstitution

A. Le Pichon

Département Analyse et Surveillance de l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Centre DAM - Ile de France, Bruyères-le-Châtel, France

J. M. Guérin

Département Analyse et Surveillance de l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Centre DAM - Ile de France, Bruyères-le-Châtel, France

E. Blanc

Département Analyse et Surveillance de l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Centre DAM - Ile de France, Bruyères-le-Châtel, France

D. Reymond

Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Laboratoire de Géophysique de Pamatai, Tahiti, French Polynesia

On 29 December 2000, a meteor entry in the atmosphere produced several bright lights in the sky of Tahiti and intense sonic booms around midnight local time. This event was detected by the Laboratoire de Détection et de Géophysique French Polynesian seismic network and by the IS24 infrasound station in Tahiti operating for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). Both seismic and infrasonic signals indicated that the altitude of the meteor's last explosion was ∼45 km. From the wave azimuth and incidence angle determined through infrasonic data processing, the meteor trajectory has been backtracked over 55 km. Determination of the azimuth and incidence angle of the infrasonic arrivals permitted the determination of a 55 km segment of the meteor trajectory. The velocity of the meteor decreased from 17 to 15 km/s in ∼4 s, while its altitude changed from 55 to 45 km. The diameter and the kinetic energy of the bolide are evaluated using the infrasonic measurements and numerical simulations.

Published 11 December 2002.

Citation: Le Pichon, A., J. M. Guérin, E. Blanc, and D. Reymond (2002), Trail in the atmosphere of the 29 December 2000 meteor as recorded in Tahiti: Characteristics and trajectory reconstitution, J. Geophys. Res., 107(D23), 4709, doi:10.1029/2001JD001283.

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