types of meteors

Comets

The word "meteor" is used in both meteorology and astronomy, but its meaning differs depending on the context. The field of meteorology uses the term "meteorites" to encompass all naturally occurring physical phenomena that can occur at any level in the atmosphere. Meteorology is essentially the study of these meteors: the set of phenomena that occur within the Earth's atmosphere. There are numerous types of meteors with unique characteristics.

Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you about the different types of meteors that exist, their characteristics and much more.

How a meteor is formed

types of meteors that exist

Meteors form in the ionosphere, specifically in the upper atmosphere, which is between 85 and 115 km above the Earth's surface. This is a relatively common phenomenon that can be seen with the naked eye. In fact, during a dark and clear night, it is estimated that approximately 10 meteors can be detected at random intervals without the aid of instruments. There are also periods throughout the year when there is an increase in the number of meteors, which They range between 10 and 60 per hour, as long as conditions are favorable.

These events are known globally as “star showers” ​​and are caused by the fragmentation of a comet into several objects that enter our atmosphere, each transforming into a unique meteor.

Differences between meteorites, meteors and meteoroid

ferrous and rocky

It is important to understand the distinction between meteorites, meteorites, and meteoroids. A meteor It is a fragment of rock or metal from space that survives the journey through Earth's atmosphere and hits the ground. A meteor, on the other hand, is the beam of visible light that is produced when a small piece of debris from a comet or asteroid, It enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up due to friction. Finally, a meteoroid is the smallest of the three, referring to any rocky or metallic debris in space that is less than one meter in size. It is crucial to differentiate between these terms when talking about events related to space and celestial phenomena.

Composition and characteristics

The composition of a meteor can be quite complex. It is made up of various materials, including iron, nickel, and rock. These materials often They form together in a process called accretion, which occurs when smaller particles come together to form a larger object. As the meteor travels through space, it can interact with Earth's atmosphere, causing it to heat up and vaporize.

This vaporization leads to the formation of a bright beam of light, which is commonly known as a shooting star. Despite its fleeting nature, Meteors offer valuable information about the composition of our solar system.

From a meteorological point of view, it is evident that meteors are formed from elements that exist within the atmosphere. Alternatively, they may also be the result of processes using these elements and occasionally sunlight. To delve deeper, most meteors can be classified as hydrometeors, which consist of water in a liquid or solid state.

In addition, meteors can also be composed of solid particles that originate from the Earth's surface, such as dust or sea salts. Finally, they can manifest as an optical or electrical event resulting from physical phenomena that occur in the air.

types of meteors

types of meteors

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has created a meteor classification system that distinguishes between different types.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), meteors can be divided into:

Hydrometeors: They are meteors formed from liquid or solid water. They can be divided into different categories based on their more specific characteristics.

  • Water particles suspended in the atmosphere: clouds, fog, mist, freezing fog.
  • Precipitation: rain, drizzle, freezing rain, showers, hail, snow, sleet, graupel.
  • Particle deposition: frost, dew, frost, ice.
  • Particles carried by the wind: blizzards, wave jets.
  • Others: Thunderstorms, Vegas…

Lithometeors: They are meteors formed from particles from the Earth's surface. They can be divided into different types.

  • Particles suspended in the atmosphere: fog, dust haze, smog.
  • Particles carried by the wind: blizzard, storm, whirlpools (dust or sand).

Photometeors: They are meteors that are considered optical or luminous. These include rainbows, solar or lunar halos, circumzenithal arcs, ghosts, paralunar surfaces, iridescent clouds, mirages, episcopal rings, scintillations, etc.

Electrometeors: They are of electrical origin. Among them we find storms, lightning, lightning, auroras, St. Elmo's Fire and more.

In astronomy, on the other hand, meteorites are divided into three main types based on their composition. It is worth clarifying that they are not classified according to luminous phenomena (meteorites), but according to the elements that make up solid objects. The different types are:

  • Ferrous: Also called “siderites”, they are metallic objects. They are composed of 90% iron (Fe), 9% nickel (Ni) and 1% other elements.
  • Rocky: Also called “meteorites” or “rocks”, they are stone objects. They are composed of light silicates, similar to stones in the Earth's crust. Although they represent the most common type of meteoroid, once they reach the surface it is difficult to distinguish them from rocks on Earth.
  • Ferrous-rocky: They are metal-stone objects. They present an intermediate combination between the first two types.

Origin of meteors

Meteors, also known as shooting stars, have a long and complicated history regarding their origin. Meteors have been theorized to be remnants of the formation of our solar system, as well as fragments of comets and asteroids. Some scientists believe they have extraterrestrial origins, originating from other planets or even other star systems. Despite the uncertainty surrounding their origins, meteors continue to fascinate and intrigue people around the world.

Demonstration of the origin of meteors in astronomy was not possible until the year 1800. It was then that German scholars calculated the altitude at which meteors were visible, leading to the conclusion that they must be related to extraterrestrial objects.

Today, We are aware that meteors can originate from various sources. Some may be remnants of the formation or destruction of larger celestial bodies, such as planets or satellites. Others may come from asteroid fragments that exist in our solar system's asteroid belt.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the types of meteors and their characteristics.


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