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Seismic observations of meteors: Coupling theory and observations
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
Over the last century, seismic instruments have recorded, with increasing frequency, the ground motion produced by meteorically generated shock waves striking the Earth's surface. In this review, the history of meteor-related seismic signals is discussed, along with documented waveform characteristics, source mechanisms, air-ground coupling phenomena, and kinematic methods of determining meteor trajectories and event locations. Uncertainties in the mechanics of air-ground coupling, however, have left methods of measuring meteor source energy underdeveloped. To date, coupling of acoustic waves directly with the Earth's surface represents the bulk of the observed meteor-related seismic signals, while precursory and impact-related seismic waves remain an observational rarity. With proliferation of infrasound and seismic monitoring systems, new opportunities exist to explore the relationship between Earth's atmosphere and surface. Continued study of meteor seismology will lead to new methods to constrain energies, sizes, and fluxes for moderately (cm to m) sized meteoroids on Earth and potentially on Mars.
Received 24 October 2007; accepted 16 June 2008; published 31 December 2008.
Citation: (2008), Seismic observations of meteors: Coupling theory and observations, Rev. Geophys., 46, RG4007, doi:10.1029/2007RG000253.
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