The nuclear and aerial dynamics of the Tunguska Event

Abstract

Abstract-A mathematical-physical characterization of an atmospheric "explosive" event-commonly called the Tunguska Event of 1908-has been formulated. Emphasis is placed upon the aerial dynamics and the nuclear energy released in the gas cap of the meteor as it passed through the atmosphere.The results obtained are consistent with the dominant phenomena observed for the Tunguska Event suggesting therefore a plausible reconstruction of the physical processes associated with this unusual event.

Near-Earth Asteroid Deflection Mission Using Coulomb Force Attractor

“…Astronomers and physicists have long warned of the potential threat posed by near-Earth asteroids (NEAs). As historical impact events like the Cretaceous mass extinction, 1) the 1908 Tunguska event, [2][3][4] and the 2003 Chelyabinsk event 5) illustrate, an NEA collision with the Earth could be catastrophic. Though the probability of an impact resulting in severe ecological damage is low, we have to quantify the risk and prepare to deal with NEAs.…”

The Tunguska Event

“…In the recent past the cometary hypothesis has been favored on the basis that a low-density object was needed to explain the Tunguska catastrophe (Petrov and Stulov 1975;Turco et al 1982). Subsequently, to account for the concentration of energy release of the explosion, two sub-versions of this hypothesis have been developed, one introducing chemical reactions (Tsymbal and Shnitke 1986), the other nuclear-fusion reactions (D'Alessio and Harms 1989). On the other hand, it has been shown (Grigorian 1976;Grigorian 1979;Passey and Melosh 1980;Levin and Bronshten 1986) that the fragmentation of a normal density object can greatly increase the rate of energy deposition in a small region near the end of the trajectory, thus appearing as an atmospheric explosion.…”