GEOPHYSICAL METEORS
Andrei Yu. Ol'khovatov
Russia, Moscow olkhov@mail.ru
About 2 centuries ago science have recognized that "indeed stones can fall from the sky", and soon afterwards almost every fireball in the sky was interpreted as a rock from outer space (meteoroid) entering the atmosphere. But some fireball's events don't conform the meteoroidal interpretation. For example, Corliss W. pays attention on the low-level meteor-like luminous phenomena [1].
The present investigation reveals that the meteor-like phenomena are much more common and are not limited to low heights. So the special term is needed. As till now we don't know their physical mechanism, probably the term "geophysical meteors" or "geometeors" seems to be appropriate. What do we know about geometeors? A geometeor resembles a high-speed ball-lightning. The author's investigation reveals its association with some atmospheric processes (especially before cloudiness upsurge), and its gravitation to geological discontinuities (faults etc.), and such geological heterogeneities as outcrops, intrusions, ore deposits etc.) [2]. There are also some other possible correlations, which are still under question [2].
A remarkable feature of geometeors is that sometimes geometeors release a large amount on energy. For example in the 1994 Cando event 20 meters-long pine trees were thrown away up to 80 meters[3]! There are also hints that, at least, sometimes a geometeor can deposit (transport?) some terrestrial substance. Its deposit often looks like strongly heated, and altered by very powerful electromagnetic waves.
Existing data hint that a geometeor is a result of coupling between some endogenic (tectonic) processes and atmospheric processes. And indeed, similar events occurr in association with earthquakes (a kind of "earthquake lights"), and in association with a thunderstorm ("classic" ball-lightning). Apparently, geometeors are in-between these phenomena. Probably electromagnetic self-organization phenomena play large role in them. More info can be read in: www.geocities.com/olkhov
References
1. Corliss W.: Lightning, Auroras, Nocturnal Lights, And Related Luminous Phenomena. A Catalog of Geophysical Anomalies.// The Sourcebook project, Glen Arm, MD, USA, 242 p. (1982)
2. Ol'khovatov A.Yu.: Evidences for Geophysical Origin of The 1997 Greenland Fireball Event.// Proc. 6th Intern. Symp. Ball Lightning, Aug.23-25, 1999, , ed. G. Dijkhuis, Univ. of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium, p.38 (1999). Also posted in: http://www.geocities.com/olkhov/gr1997.htm
3. Docobo R., Spalding R., Ceplecha Z., et al.// Meteoritics & Planetary Sci., v.33, p.57 (1998).