Physical Effects of the Kyiv Meteoroid: 3

Abstract

Comprehensive simulation of a number of main processes induced in all geospheres by the fall and explosion of the Kyiv meteoroid on April 19, 2023, have been conducted. Magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic, ionospheric, and seismic effects and the effects of acoustic gravity waves have been assessed. The magnetic effect of the ionospheric currents and the current in the wake of the meteoroid could be considerably large (approximately 0.4–0.7 nT). Owing to the capture of electrons in the atmospheric gravity wave field, the magnetic effect can reach the levels of 0.6–6 nT. Under the influence of an external electric field, a transient current pulse with a current strength of up to approximately 10²–10³ A can arise. The electrostatic effect can be accompanied by the accumulation of an electric charge of approximately 1–6 mC, which produces the electric field strength of approximately 10 MV/m. The flow of the electric current in the meteoroid wake can give rise to generation of an electromagnetic pulse in the 10–100 kHz band with an electric field strength in the range of 1–10 V/m. The electromagnetic effect of infrasound could be substantial (approximately 0.6–6 V/m and approximately 2–20 nT). The absorption of the shock wave at the ionospheric dynamo region altitudes (approximately 100–150 km) can generate secondary atmospheric gravity waves with a relative amplitude of approximately 0.1%. The fall of the meteoroid produced a plasma wake not only in the lower atmosphere but also in the upper atmosphere at altitudes of not less than 1000 km. The possibility of the appearance of an electrophonic effect is unlikely. The possibilities of generating the ion and magnetic sound by infrasound and generating gradient drift and drift dissipative instabilities seem to be unlikely as well. The magnetic, electrical, and electromagnetic effects dealt with in this study partially fill up gaps in the theory of physical effects produced by meteoroids in the Earth–atmosphere–ionosphere–magnetosphere system. The magnitudes of magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic, ionospheric, and acoustic effects are significant. The magnitude of the earthquake caused by the meteoroid explosion did not exceed one. The mean rate of recurrence of the fall of celestial bodies similar to the Kyiv meteoroid equals 32.3 yr^–1, i.e., one event in 11 days.