New Models for the Prediction of Leonid Meteor Properties and Signatures

Details New Models for the Prediction of Leonid Meteor Properties and Signatures New Models for the Prediction of Leonid Meteor Properties and Signatures

Dec 2000

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000dps....32.6525b&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS Meeting #32, #65.25; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 32, p.1644

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Scientific paper

Leonid meteors present many challenges for understanding meteoroid properties and the interactions of these high-velocity objects with the atmosphere. The observed signatures are the result of complex processes of fluid mechanics, aerothermodynamics and chemistry. Our work improves understanding of the meteor-atmosphere encounter and meteoroid properties through the development of three new interrelated models. First, a simplified model allows easy examination of the approximate scaling relationships relating observed light curves to inferred meteoroid properties. An intermediate fidelity model removes some of the simplifications and incorporates approximations of essential physical responses illustrated by the detailed model. At the highest level, a theoretical description with molecular detail is used to probe complex meteoroid-atmosphere interactions, aerothermodynamic environments, and processes related to the observed light curves and spectra. The simplified model is an asymptotic solution of the Opik-Hansen-Pecina meteor ablation model. Both models assume free molecular heating with a constant value of the heat transfer coefficient, the Stanton number. Leonid meteoroid heat transfer and ablation are not constant Stanton number processes. Also, they occur in a rarefied flow regime where the Navier-Stokes equations are not applicable. A molecular level Monte Carlo model is therefore used to investigate the nonequilibrium interactions of meteoroid and air molecules in the ablation, wake formation, and signature development processes. Results from these solutions are used to develop a physically consistent approximation for the intermediate model to describe the altitude-dependent effects of mass transfer on the Stanton number. Because this substantial variation is included in the intermediate model, it provides improved interpretations of meteor light curve data compared to those models that assume the Stanton number is a constant. The poster presents preliminary results from each of the three new models and illustrates their complementary relationships and utility. This work was sponsored by the Aerospace Corporation Technical Investment Program.

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