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Re: (meteorobs) Comets hit Spain?
--- KevTK@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 1/24/00 5:20:48 AM Eastern
> Standard Time,
> ggreatti@it.ibm.com writes:
>
> << But right now all is a mystery, no scientist gave
> a proper answer to this
> strange phenomenon ... >>
>
> A few days ago scientists (I'll have to find the
> link again) attributed a few
> of the pieces to an atmospheric phenomena, all
> others were deemed copycat
> hoaxes.
>
KevTK is correct about that announcement by the
Spanish scientists attributing the initial pieces to
an atmospheric phenomena. I'm still trying to find
that link, as well. In that same announcement they
described the composition of the ice as being
"distilled water"! I haven't heard anything since.
Has anyone else heard anything?
This story can't be over, yet. The explanation, so
far given, is incomplete, if not down right
unsatisfactory. An earlier news article (which I've
attached) states that "Meteorologists have ruled out
the weather as a possible explanation"! An earlier
post offered that the world record for a hailstone is
smaller that these Spanish ice chunks.
So, is this a weather phenomenon that is unknown to
meteorologists?
What is the evidence to support the weather phenomenon
explanation?
The description of the composition of the ice as being
"distilled water" is unsatisfactory. It rules out
human excrement, but it still leaves the origin
unexplained. All that is needed is an "announcement"
that the D/H ratio has been measured, and that it is
terrestrial, and then all this speculation that
"comets are hitting Spain and Italy" can come to an
end.
If anyone can help me get in contact with the Spanish
lead investigator, a geologist by the name of Jesus
Martinez Frias, it would be very much appreciated.
Robert Verish
-----------------------------------------------------
http://news.bbc.codot uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_608000/608903.stm
[Photos of the iceballs included at this URL]
Spaniards dodge mystery ice
BBC News
January 18, 2000
Chunks of ice as big as basketballs have been
plummeting out of Spain's
skies in recent days, baffling scientists.
One man in the south of the country narrowly escaped
serious injury last
week when a 4kg ice ball smashed into his car.
It was at first thought human excrement ejected from
aircraft was to blame,
then perhaps debris from comets.
Now scientists hope chemical analysis will unravel the
mystery.
"The most surprised person of all by this phenomenon
is me," said geologist
Jesus Martinez Frias, who is heading a team of experts
investigating the
problem.
They have travelled all over Spain collecting and
analysing the blocks of
ice, over a dozen of which have so far bombarded the
country in the last 10
days.
Professor Martinez told the daily El Pais that the
chunks appeared to be
nearly 100% frozen water but chemical testing should
reveal their origin by
Friday.
He said the chunks lacked the colouring of jet waste,
and were too scattered
and infrequent to be pieces of comet tails.
They should also have been large enough to register on
radar screens.
Meteorologists have ruled out the weather as a
possible explanation.
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