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Theoretical Leonid entry modeling

Conference ·
OSTI ID:975808

In this work we present a model originally developed by ReVelle (1979, 1993) that has been applied to model large Leonid bolides with a few relatively minor modifications and one major modification which allows for catastrophic 'pancake: fragmentation processes as described below. The minor modifications include allowing the energy of ablation per unit mass for vaporization, Qvap, to be a free variable that is adjusted until agreement is obtained between the theoretical model and the statistically expected ablation coefficient for the Leonids (Group IIIB type bolide). It was found that the Qvap had to be reduced by a factor of about five times compared to the accepted value of Qvap for cometary materials. Alternative ways of achieving this degree of agreement between theory and observations are also suggested as well. In a separate paper we apply this model to a specific Leonid bolide during the 1998 storm period.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE
OSTI ID:
975808
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-01-5649
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English