[meteorite-list] Mystery Trench In Wales Caused By Lightning Strike, Not Meteorite Fall

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:02:26 2004
Message-ID: <200203110335.TAA22786_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/page.cfm?objectid=11686761&method=full&siteid=50082

Meteorite theory blasted
IC Wales (United Kingdom)
March 9, 2002

A TRENCH thought to have been created by a meteorite on a remote
mountainside was probably blasted open in a spectacular lightning
strike, experts said yesterday.

Astronomers travelled from Northern Ireland and Merseyside to
Gwynedd to inspect the 20-yard trench on Snowdon yesterday.

Experts from Armagh Observatory and Liverpool University concluded
the trench was more likely to have been created by a lightning strike
violent enough to scatter soil and rocks over a wide area.

The trench was spotted by a fell runner in December, and investigated
by Mike Blake, another local runner. He said after yesterday's trip
the lightning had hit a large rock and run off through the moist peat
towards a fence, boiling the water in the peat and causing an eruption.
"It's nice to have finally got an answer," said Mr Blake.
Received on Sun 10 Mar 2002 10:35:55 PM PST