[meteorite-list] Why Meteorites Are Unlikely To Cause Fires

From: Charles Viau <cviau_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:28:36 2004
Message-ID: <000101c39ecc$685f9f40$1800a8c0_at_chupa>

A great book, and real food for thought. I agree that 99.9% of
meteorites are not particularly hot when they land, but there is real
evidence in history that shows that this is not always the case, and it
can and does occasionally happen. Almost all cases of meteorites that
were said to have caused fires or burned grassy areas were of the
Iron/Stony Iron type.

I really like John Lewis's Quote in the book "Rain of Iron and Ice" :
Pg. 163, first para.

"Meteorites have never been observed to start a fire in the presence of
a meteoriticist and a fire marshal."

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-admin_at_meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-admin_at_meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of tracy
latimer
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 1:50 PM
To: MJSOfArc_at_webtv.net; baalke@zagami.jpl.nasa.gov;
meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Why Meteorites Are Unlikely To Cause Fires

One of my friends owns a book previously mentioned on Da List, Rain of
Iron
and Ice. In it, a number of scenarios are extrapolated for asteroid
impact,
ranging from little effect to widespread devastation, depending on a
number
of factors. I suggest you take a look at this book, if you can get your

hands on it -- a good and informative read.

Tracy Latimer

>Woud the same principles be present in a large asteroid disintigtating
>(exploding/vaporising) just before it impacted on earth within our
>atmosphere, should it make it in that close ( Tugunsta and
>similiar)? In that, the pieces, metal bearing ( heat condusive), would
>be subject to our gravitational and friction factor, depending on what
>velocity and distance, they are spewn apart to ? Friction is a factor
in
>our atmosphere, once it explodes here, frozen or not, isn' it ? How
much
>heat, due to our friction, if any, does a shockwave accumulate? I
know
>there is no way of measuring an exact answer for this question, as
every
>occurance and strewnfield is different, but
>I really don't understand why, under these circumstances, a margin of
>credability doesn't exist? The provrbial, exception to the rule? Could
>it be that the shockwave, not the meteorite fragments, itself could
>create under the right climate ( hot dry) the ability to generate
enough
>heat to ignite combustible earth matter?
>Excuse my ignorance, but I would sincerely, as a student, like any
>possible answers or theories to my querry, from anyone that would be so
>kind. Best Regards, Marcie

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Received on Thu 30 Oct 2003 04:58:40 AM PST