Physical Effects of the Lipetsk Meteoroid: 1

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Abstract—This study aims at estimating some of the physical effects associated with the passage through the atmosphere and airburst of a meteoroid near Lipetsk (Russia) on June 21, 2018. The meteoroid’s initial kinetic energy was close to 11.7 TJ or 2.8 kt TNT. Approximately 10.4% or 1.22 TJ of the initial kinetic energy transformed into a flare. The meteoroid was found to be stony or, more specifically, a chondrite, with a matter density of 3.3 t/m3. The celestial body moved at an angle of approximately 79° with respect to the horizon. The body’s initial mass equaled approximately 113 t, its initial speed was 14.4 km/s, and the initial diameter was 4 m. The altitude of the Lipetsk meteoroid’s explosion was close to 27 km, and the length of the explosion region equaled approximately 3.75 km. A comprehensive modeling of the processes initiated by the meteoroid’s passage through all geospheres has been performed. Mechanical, optical, and gas-dynamic effects associated with the Lipetsk meteoroid’s passage have been estimated. The primary release of energy (1013 J) is shown to occur at an altitude of approximately 25–27 km, where the rate of the mass loss approached 130–140 t/s and the deceleration was close to 21 km/s2. In the vicinity of the meteoroid’s explosion, the meteoroid’s speed decreased by approximately 12%, and its mass decreased by 16%. The main parameters of shock wave have been estimated. The shock wave energy and power are equal to approximately 10 TJ and 0.8 TW, respectively. At the epicenter of the meteoroid’s explosion, the pressure at the shock front reached ≈140 Pa. This turns out to be insufficient for causing the destruction of buildings. The optical flare energy and power were equal to 1.22 TJ and 2–3 TW, respectively. The flare energy was 5–6 orders of magnitude less than that necessary for causing the ignition of materials and fires in the epicenter region. The relative disturbances in the air pressure at ionospheric altitudes above the explosion epicenter attained tens and even hundreds of percent.