[meteorite-list] Meteorite Rain in Rajastan

From: Sterling K. Webb <kelly_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun Jul 10 23:46:56 2005
Message-ID: <42D1EB8B.40F9365_at_bhil.com>

Hi,

    The Indian state of Rajastan has an area of 342,000 km^2. The total
surface area of the Earth is 509,600,000 km^2, so Rajastan represents or
0.06711% of the Earth surface.
    If the fall rate (oh, boy, have we talked about this!) is the old figure
of 25,000 meteorite per year, then Rajastan receives about 16 to 17 meteorites
PER YEAR.
    If the fall rate is the current moderate estimate (50,000, Phil Bland,
etc.), then Rajastan receives about 33 meteorites PER YEAR.
    If you use the more likely (at least, to me) figure I have tried to
determine (~100,000), then Rajastan receives about 66 meteorites PER YEAR.
    The fall rate for Rajastan is certainly NOT one every 2000 years.
    It's FINDING them before the climate destroys them that's hard,
particularly for chondrites.
    There is no shortage of meteorites.
    Perhaps the increase in the find rate in Rajastan is due to more eyes
(44,000,000 people, or 128 per km^2), better understanding and awareness
(better education), the clearing in development of more land area, and perhaps
just plain good luck!


Sterling K. Webb
----------------------------------------
Ron Baalke wrote:

> http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=74183
> Clue to life in Thar meteorite rain
> SANDIPAN SHARMA
> The Sunday Express (India)
> July 10, 2005
> Since 1995, at least 10 meteorites have fallen on various villages in
> western Rajasthan. The number could be more as many such incidents go
> unreported. "This is strange. Generally, chances of a meteorite falling in
> an area
> is once in 2000 years," says Prof B S Paliwal, head, Department of Geology,
> Jodhpur University...
Received on Sun 10 Jul 2005 11:46:19 PM PDT