On the mass distribution of meteorites and their influx rate

It is attempted to calculate the mass distribution and influx rate of meteorites by a three-sectioned process. First, an estimate based on the middle line of various studies takes seasonal flux into account and concludes that 400 meteorites hit the British Isles within the last 200 years, of which only 20 were recovered. Second, the mass distribution calculation, also based on the middle line, results in 675 of the 3300 falls hitting the earth each year being stones of mass greater than 16 kg; the mass distribution indices are 1.90 for stones and 1.82 for irons. Third, the ablation ratio of initial mass over retrieved mass is calculated at about 1000; the results show that the earth's atmosphere acts as an extremely efficient velocity filter, letting only low velocity meteoroids through. No simple power relationship between retrieved mass and initial mass can however be determined; thus, a constant mass distribution index for the incident bodies will result in a variable index (as a function of mass) for the retrieved meteorites.