(meteorobs) electrophonic meteors

[drobnock2]

The "hearing" of electrophonic meteors is attributed to the
conversion 
or rectification of very low frequency electromagmetic radiation into 
sound. This is atributed to an object near the observer vibrating.
The 
electrophonic meteor is generally thought to occur with meteors of -5 
mag. or brighter.

An alternate to the electrophonic noise is in the receiving 
non-fireball VLF signatures. The group may want to review the 
following article:

http://www.rssd.esa.int/meteors/publications/ULF-VLF_Electric_field_me
asurements_during_the_2001_Leonid_storm_Paper.pdf- 

Also check web page for Colin Price or a recent article by Martin 
Beech.

Although not hearing electrophonic meteors during the 2002 Leonids. 
Our group did see a correlation with the visual intensity of the 
shower and an increase in non-fireball VLF signatures. 

There may not be a quick explanation for one individual being able to 
hear a 
continuous pop pop as meteors passed, but the change in the
electrical 
field made made by the electrical discharge of a meteors passing may   
atribute to such an occurance.

George John Drobnock





 location.  He said that he heard some of the meteors as they 
happened (not
> with the lag expected taking the speed of sound into account) and 
that he
> didn't think he ws imagining it because many (but not all) of his 
friends
> also heard the meteors.  The sound occurred only with the brightest 
meteors,
> and he described it as sounding "like a cap gun -- pop, pop, pop."
> 
> I've read a lot of reports of electrophonic sounds and have heard
it 
myself,
> but this is the first time I recall getting a report of someone 
hearing
> electrophonics from many meteors during a meteor shower.  Anyone 
know if
> this is a common thing?  For that matter, has anyone on the list 
experienced
> that?  I know I haven't!
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Dave Hostetter
> Curator of the Planetarium
> Lafayette (LA) Natural History Museum & Planetarium
> 
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