HR: 08:00h
AN: SA21B-01    [Abstracts]
TI: Sources of Meteoric Influx in the Upper Atmosphere
AU: * Jenniskens, P M
EM: pjenniskens@mail.arc.nasa.gov
AF: SETI Institute, 515 N. Whisman Road, Mountain View, CA 94043
AB: Our current understanding of the terrestial mass influx curve will be discussed, with particular emphasis on the meteoroids peak at 200 micron. The expected changes in meteoroid orbits for meteoroids smaller and larger than 200 micron will be addressed. The contribution of sporadic and shower meteors to the total mass influx will be evaluated as well as their temporal variations over the year. This will be compared to the distribution of meteoroid impact velocities as measured by radar. The most recent new insight has come regarding the cause of the ecliptic antihelion source streams, with the discovery of minor planets that are parents of meteor showers. I will discuss some of those parent bodies and their physical properties, as well as the orbital dynamics of the associated meteoroid streams. All this provides the framework for predicting opportunities for the study of temporal enhancements of meteoroid influx and their effect on the Earth's atmosphere in the near future.
UR: http://leonid.arc.nasa.gov
DE: 0341 Middle atmosphere: constituent transport and chemistry (3334)
DE: 0406 Astrobiology and extraterrestrial materials
DE: 6015 Dust
DE: 6023 Comets: dust tails and trails (6210)
DE: 6035 Orbital and rotational dynamics
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005