Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Feb 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998p%26ss...46..129v&link_type=abstract
Planetary and Space Science, v. 46, p. 129-150.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
30
Scientific paper
This paper contains basic data relating to the Tunguska Meteorite (TM) as late as 1996, including flight and explosion of a giant bolide in Siberia on 30 June 1908, related geophysical effects, the results of search of the TM matter and the environmental after effects of the event. The TNT equivalent of the Tunguska explosion is estimated between 10 and 40 megatons (most probably 15 megatons), probable energy 4.2 × 1023-1.7 × 1024 erg, altitude of the explosion 5-10 km. The explosion devastated a 2150+/-25 km2 forest area and produced a radiant burn of flora at more than 100 km2. The problem of optical events in the summer of 1908 connected to the Tunguska explosion is discussed, as well as that of the origin of element and isotropic anomalies in the area, the most striking feature being peculiarities in the C, H and Pb isotopic composition. A critical analysis is given of hypotheses proposed to explain TM problem. The hypotheses proceeding from concepts of the TM low and hyperlow (<0.01 g/cm3) density are shown to be inconsistent. It is stated that nowadays the basic aspect of the TM nature discussion is an alternative ``stony asteroid-comet''. Though the final choice between them has not yet been made, the chances of the stony asteroid version have recently grown substantially. The first priority is to solve a set of questions in order that further development of this problem can be defined as follows: (1) the fate of the meteorite fragments in case the TM was really a stony asteroid; (2) the possibility of a carbonaceous chondrite and mellow comet nucleus penetration into the troposphere; (3) the nature of the element and isotopic cosmochemical anomaly in the area of the Tunguska explosion epicentre; (4) the mechanism of geomagnetic effect and optical anomalies developed in the summer of 1908; (5) the possibility of a quick (within hours) transfer of dusty matter from the area of the Tunguska event to Central Asia, European Russia and Western Europe by stratospheric and mesospheric winds and (6) the cause of the mutation process in the area of the Tunguska catastrophe. All these questions might be solved much faster within the frames of international scientific cooperation as recently outlined and of continued fieldwork in the area of the Tunguska explosion. In this way the necessary conditions will be created to build up a synthetic theory of the Tunguska event, in order to explain not only the explosion of a space object at the Podkamennaya Tunguska, but the entire complex of anomalous cosmophysical events in the summer of 1908.
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