[meteorite-list] Meteorite Caused the Daytona Beach Rogue Wave in1992?

[Chris Peterson]

While we all know now that it is possible for fairly small objects to retain 
supersonic velocity all the way to the ground (at least, if the "ground" in 
question is very high above sea level), it is clear that such events are 
rare, to say the least. Certainly, simulations suggest that objects sized at 
tens of meters impacting the ocean at hypervelocity can produce tsunamis. 
But realistically, a 10 meter object that was moving at hypervelocity all 
the way to the sea, and near shore, would have produced a massive fireball, 
rivaling the Sun, would have left a long lasting dust debris train, and 
would have been witnessed by thousands of people.

I'm certainly not saying that it's impossible for there to have been a huge 
meteorite impact that produced a tsunami, but I do think it is safe to say 
that the likelihood is extremely small, especially given that sporadic waves 
like the one you describe are known to occur, and are generally understood 
without needing to invoke impacts.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Galactic Stone and Ironworks" <meteoritemike at gmail.com>
To: "Chris Peterson" <clp at alumni.caltech.edu>
Cc: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Caused the Daytona Beach Rogue Wave 
in1992?


> Hi Chris and List,
>
> I agree.  As the eyewitness account reads, it's impossible for such an
> object to create a large wave.  However, if the account was in error
> about the size of the object, then perhaps it becomes a little more
> possible.
>
> What about the velocity of the object?  Let us suppose that it
> retained a good bit of it's cosmic velocity when it struck the water.
> Would an object about 10-30 feet in diameter, travelling at a high
> rate of speed (say, 1km per second), generate a large wave?  I would
> think that the speed at impact would play a role in the effects once
> it hit the water.
>
> I think the underwater landslide theory is more plausible.  I was just
> surprised to see an account about a "meteorite" in this story.
>
> Best regards,
>
> MikeG