A synthetical index of the potential threats about intense activities of meteors

• Published in: New astronomy Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 52 - 59
• Main Author: Wu, Guang-jie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2006
• Subjects: Meteorites and tektites; Meteors; Observation and data reduction techniques; Spacecraft/atmosphere interactions; 96.30.Za; 95.75.−z; Meteorites and tektites; Observation and data reduction techniques; Spacecraft/atmosphere interactions; 94.05.Hk; Meteors
• DOI: 10.1016/j.newast.2006.06.002
• ISSN: 1384-1076

In the present age, several techniques for the application to the observation of meteors and meteor showers have been developed in modern meteor astronomy. The initial definition for a meteor storm based on the visual observation with a Zenithal Hourly Rate of above 1000 seems insufficient now, since it only means a storm or burst of meteors in numbers and means that an eyewitness could have a chance to see a spectacular meteor show. Up to now, peoples have also recorded the meteoric flashes on the Moon during the Leonid meteor showers. Especially, the increasing activities of mankind in space for scientific, commercial and military purposes, have led to an increase in the problems concerning the safety of the satellites, space stations and astronauts. How the intense activity of a meteor storm is defined and forecast, some new points of view are needed. In this paper, several aspects about the intensity of the meteor storm are analyzed, including the number, mass, impulse, energy, electric charge, different purposes and different physical meanings. Finally, a synthetical index denoting the activity and potential threat of an intense meteor shower is suggested.