Abstract
The total mass influx onto the Earth's surface has been calculated over the mass range 10 −13–10 10 g by using cumulative influx rate data. Interpolation formulae have been fitted to this data and the resulting influx is found to vary between 3 × 10 8 and 5 × 10 13 g. (Earth surface) −1 yr −1 depending on which data are used to obtain the formulae. By considering the latest measurements of comet masses and estimates for the rate of cometary decay, the mass influx to the solar system dust cloud has been calculated. Considering the processes responsible for removing particles from the cloud it is concluded that, if the cloud is to remain in equilibrium, the influx to the Earth's surface must be about 10 8.7 ± 0.3 g (Earth surface) −1 yr −1.
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