More than 100 years ago, on June 30, 1908, a very large explosion occurred on the banks of the Tunguska River in eastern Siberia, Russia. Due to this explosion, the forests in this area were flattened.
Let’s say that this big explosion was caused by a meteorite, but if the meteorite is true, then there is a crater left behind. If the meteor had exploded in midair, it would have left scattered fragments of the meteorite. No meteorite remains can be found in this area. This is a matter of great concern among scientists. They can’t think of what kind of objects left evidence and caused the big explosion.
Sci-fi writers come up with different ideas. Among their thoughts, the explosion of a spaceship from another world is at the top.
A group of scientists from the Siberian Federal University in Russia tried to find a solution to this explosion. After studying this process in detail and doing various computer simulations, they presented their theory in a research paper.
This theory was presented by a group of scientists led by Danny I. Khrinnikov from the University of Siberia. According to their paper, the explosion was caused by a meteor that entered the Earth’s atmosphere.
They said that this meteorite entered the Earth’s atmosphere at a low angle and did not collide with the Earth.
“Our theory is that the Tunguska event was caused by a large iron meteorite that slid into Earth’s atmosphere.” It is believed that this meteorite has re-entered the solar orbit after leaving Earth’s atmosphere,” they reported in their paper.
What did other scientists think?
Other scientists have presented various theories about this Tanguska phenomenon. Among them, the most interesting theory is the idea that it came from an extraterrestrial ice block that exploded. It is believed that this ice cube melted due to heat as it entered the atmosphere and evaporated in a violent explosion.
What evidence is there?
If this ice vapor were to explode, the force of the explosion would be capable of causing the trees on the ground to fall. And there won’t be a hole in the ground caused by a meteorite impact. And the meteorite fragments will no longer be scattered on the ground.
The problem is that this iceberg theory is inconsistent with other evidence. According to the witnesses who witnessed this process, “the sky split in two; Then there was a huge explosion, leaving huge fires burning on the ground,” they said. Reconstructing what they said, we found that the explosive object flew through the sky for about 435 miles (about 700 km) before exploding.
A computer simulation of the process
In order to find out the answer to this process, a team of scientists from the University of Siberia used a computer to simulate it. They are stone and ice. They calculated and visualized the situation that would happen if objects such as metal entered the atmosphere at a speed of 12 miles per second (20 kilometers per second). (Calculating at a speed of 20 kilometers per second, meteorites entering the atmosphere at a speed of at least 11 kilometers per second are calculated at almost twice this speed.)
When these objects fly through the air at such speeds, they rub against the air. Due to this friction, these meteorites immediately heat up. Water evaporates at 100 degrees Celsius, so it is assumed that if only a large ice cube enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it will evaporate quickly.
According to their team’s calculations, the ice block that would cause such a large explosion would enter the Earth’s atmosphere and not travel more than 300 kilometers. It will completely evaporate before it reaches 300 kilometers (186 miles).
Therefore, it is said that the Tanguska explosion is not possible due to the ice block, as people are saying.
According to their simulation, the Tunguska explosion was caused by a large iron block flying through the Earth’s atmosphere. This iron block is estimated to be the size of a football field.
As this iron nugget flies through the upper atmosphere of the Earth, it becomes very hot. But iron vaporizes at 3,000 degrees Celsius, so it won’t disappear as it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere.
As it flies through at such a high speed, it creates a strong shock wave in the air. This shock wave can be strong enough to knock trees off their feet.
If some parts of this iron block were to vaporize, these vapors would fall to the ground as iron particles. These iron particles cannot be separated from the iron particles in the earth.
Also, this theory is consistent with the fact that dust increased in the upper atmosphere of Europe during the Tunguska eruption.
Good luck?
If the theory presented by these scholars was correct, then the world would have narrowly escaped being hit by a huge meteor that morning. If this 200-meter-diameter meteorite were to hit, it would cause great damage to the entire Siberian region.
The large crater that will be created by this meteorite impact can be about two miles wide. In addition, large amounts of dust are scattered into the atmosphere and cover the sun, causing great harm to people and living things.
Instead, only three people lost their lives in this Tanguska explosion because it missed by an inch. If it had been a densely populated city, it would have been unimaginable.