The 2011 Draconids Meteor Light Curves and Meteoroid Fragmentation

Abstract

Motivated by several predictions, a small outburst activity of the 2011 Draconid meteor shower has been observed from Gadanki (13.5\(^\circ\)N, 79.2\(^\circ\)E) MST radar. We detected head echoes and Range Spread Trail Echoes (RSTE) in multiple range gates along with beat pattern echoes. The observed echoes are consistent with meteoroid fragmentation and the light curve shapes examined, which show the evidence of fragmentation irregularities. The mean height of the Draconids is found to be 95 km, which is on an average few kilometers higher than the sporadic meteors of comparable Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). The results consist of a 740 sample statistical studies, lead to conclude that a quarter of the Draconid radar meteor events included in this study exhibit fragmentation, manifested as non-uniform light curves—implying that the form of meteoroid mass flux into the upper atmosphere goes well beyond simple ablation. A few events are suggestive of differential ablation.