On the Uncertainty of Modeling the Interaction of a Meteoroid with the Atmosphere at Various Entry Angles

Abstract

The interaction with the atmosphere of a meteor body or its fragments (after destruction) is modeled by numerically solving the meteor physics equations, taking into account the curvilinearity of the trajectory. The uncertainty of such modeling is due to the uncertainty in setting the main governing parameters of the equations: the heat transfer coefficient and effective heat of ablation. We study how the angle of meteoroid entry into the atmosphere influences on the scatter in the results of calculations of its velocity, mass loss, energy deposition, trajectory, and meteorite fall location, caused by different ways of setting the heat transfer coefficient and ablation heat.