Hi Shawn, List,
Meteorites, strewnfields, and the distribution of meteorite material in
said distribution ellipses varies considerably. Rob Matson's answer was
spot on and really gives you a good understanding of the dynamics and
variables to consider.
http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/2010-March/062808.html
This is similar to a question I posed to the list a while back about the
Wethersfield meteorites. Since then I've done much more studying on the
subject.
Each meteorite fall is different, and the variables many. The governing
factors of one fall may or may not be similar to another. Though some
predictability may be possible over time if more data is collected, I
would imagine it's practically impossible to do. The only thing that
comes close to what you're talking about is Richard Kowalski's discovery
of the asteroid 2008 TC3. This has only happened once in the history of
human history. The asteroid 2008 TC3, now classified as Almahatta Sitta
was the first such observation, and now we realize that this is an
anomaly in that the asteroid body was of an atypical composition. Or was
it? This raises more questions about known strewnfields and "overlapping
strewnfields" with meteorites of same age and different types being
found in the same area.
In addition to having data about when an asteroid is going to impact, to
predict the size of a strewnfield would mean you would also have to know
the mass, size, shape, composition, orbit, entry angle, and speed. Not
to mention the pressures exerted at certain speeds relative to the
composition and structural integrity of the body. I would venture a
guess the pressures may be different at different speeds, angles of
descent, and locations on the planet etc. This all has an effect on how
the meteoroid breaks up during flight, and ultimately the predictability
of the meteorite strewnfield. Can it be done? I believe eventually we
will be able to, but for now I'm not sure... More data needs to be
collected.
Regards,
Eric Wichman
Meteorites USA
On 4/1/2010 10:56 AM, Shawn Alan wrote:
Carl and List
What was that answer he gave? Also do you have a list or know where one is of the size of
the strewn fields and a plots of where meteorites were found of the last 40 to 100 years
for falls? I mean I would think something would exist from all the people in the list
taking about how important it is to record there findings, right? No its not an April
fools joke, but it could be one hahahah :) but its a real question and it would be
interesting to see if there is a correlation in the size of the strewn field with the
size of the meteorite and the type of the meteorite and class. This would be an
"average" to see if patterns could be seen in the last 100 years with the falls
in the USA.
Good example would be wethersfield meteorites. In both cases the meteorites are
from the same class L6, both are small in size and I think both only resulted
in a single stone. Claxton is an L6 at 1455 grams and I think its a single
stone as well. Could there be a pattern in the type of class the meteorite is
if it breaks up and if so which classes break up easier. and from the classes
and the break up is there a connection in the size of the strewn field to the
size of the meteorite of the amount of meteorites recovered? This would only
include observed falls :)
It would be interesting if there is a data base that has information on falls
and the amount of meteorite fragments recovered and the size of each fragment
and where and how big the strewn field was. Why I ask this silly question is
because it could give scientist or meteorite hunters a better understanding on
how meteorites break up in entering Earths atmosphere and which types break up
and at what size they break up at. And from that they could also see how big
the strewn fields could be from the resulting size and class of that meteorite.
Shawn Alan
--- On Thu, 4/1/10, [email protected]<[email protected]> wrote:
From: [email protected]<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Buzzard Coulees strewn field size ?????
To: "Shawn Alan"<[email protected]>
Date: Thursday, April 1, 2010, 11:07 AM
Shawn, Is this an April fools joke?
Rob Matson already gave you the best answer to this
question. Keep up. Carl
--
Carl or Debbie Esparza
Meteoritemax
---- Shawn Alan<[email protected]>
wrote:
Hello Listers
I have a good question about the average size of a
Strewn Fields. A good example would be the Buzzard Coulees
fall in 2008. Whats the size of the Buzzard Coulees Strewn
Field and the collected amount of weight so far from that
fall? Why I ask is because there could be a pattern with
size of meteorites, the amount of meteorites recovered, or
the lack there of, and one might be able to predict the
size of the Strewn Field even if there is only one or two
meteorite pieces recovered. This average could be applied to
the Lorton Fall a few months ago in Virgina, which to this
date only one individual pieces has been recovered at 318g.
One could suggest that the Lorton piece could be the
main mass and calculate the mean average of the strewn
field that could result from this weight with other falls
with the average mean main mass being around 318g. By doing
this and also cross referencing with other falls that
have a mean average weight from the main mass and TKW
recovered could this predict the average size of the strewn
field as long as the class of the meteorites falls are in
the same category?
Lastly I am wondering whats the size of the Allende,
Brenham, and Ask Creek strewn field in addition to Buzzard
Coulees strewn field size?
Shawn Alan
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