The 1908 Tunguska explosion: atmospheric disruption of a stony asteroid
Abstract
The explosion over Tunguska, Central Siberia, in 1908 released 10 to 20 megatons (high explosive equivalent) of energy at an altitude of about 10 km. This event represents a typical fate for stony asteroids tens of metres in radius entering the Earth's atmosphere at common hypersonic velocities. Comets and carbonaceous asteroids of the appropriate energy disrupt too high, whereas typical iron objects reach and crater the terrestrial surface.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- January 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1038/361040a0
- Bibcode:
- 1993Natur.361...40C
- Keywords:
-
- Asteroids;
- Atmospheric Entry;
- Hypersonic Speed;
- Stony Meteorites;
- Tungusk Meteorite;
- Bolides;
- Fragmentation;
- Hypervelocity Impact;
- Mathematical Models;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration; Miscellaneous;
- EARTH;
- COMETS;
- TUNGUSKA EVENT;
- EXPLOSION;
- ASTEROIDS;
- COMPOSITION;
- AERODYNAMICS;
- ENERGY;
- FRAGMENTATION;
- MODELS;
- DEFORMATION;
- PARAMETERS;
- NUMERICAL METHODS;
- DENSITY;
- STRENGTH;
- COMPARISONS;
- SIMULATIONS;
- SIZE;
- ALTITUDE;
- BERRINGER CRATER;
- ARIZONA;
- REVELSTOKE EVENT;
- METEORITES;
- DECELERATION;
- ABLATION