Meteor entry into the atmosphere
As meteoroids strike the Earth's gaseous envelope at speeds up to 70 km/s, they encounter dense air molecules. The abrupt compression creates a shock front that propagates at supersonic velocities.
Formation of the sonic boom
The compressed air heats intensely and then expands rapidly, producing a loud blast known as a sonic boom. The released energy can be likened to the detonation of hundreds of tons of TNT.
Physical principles
The shock’s energy derives from the meteor’s kinetic energy (½ mv²) and the fraction converted into acoustic energy. For typical meteors ranging from a few grams to several kilograms, conversion efficiencies of a few percent yield significant pressure spikes.
Effects on Earth
Most meteoroids disintegrate before reaching the ground, and the resulting shock waves travel several kilometers. Rarely, larger bodies cause localized damage such as broken windows or structural stress.
Research and monitoring
Scientists employ networks of infrasound and radar stations to detect sonic booms and infer the properties of the originating meteors. These observations improve assessments of hazards posed by space debris.