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Observation of a Long‐Lived Optical Meteor Producing Low Mesosphere Irregularity Echo: Trajectory, Fragmentation, and Spectroscopy.

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Title: Observation of a Long‐Lived Optical Meteor Producing Low Mesosphere Irregularity Echo: Trajectory, Fragmentation, and Spectroscopy.
Authors: Li, Yi1,2 (AUTHOR), Li, Guozhu1,2,3 (AUTHOR) gzlee@mail.iggcas.ac.cn, Wu, Zhi2 (AUTHOR), Hu, Lianhuan1,2 (AUTHOR), Zhao, Xiukuan1,4 (AUTHOR), Sun, Wenjie1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Xie, Haiyong1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Dai, Guofeng1,2 (AUTHOR), Liu, Jianfei1,2 (AUTHOR), Ning, Baiqi1,2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets. Nov2025, Vol. 130 Issue 11, p1-16. 16p.
Subject Terms: *Mesosphere, *Upper atmosphere, *Spectrometry, Meteors, Meteorite analysis, Near-earth asteroids, Ionospheric disturbances
Abstract: Observations of meteoroids and their associated phenomena in the atmosphere provide crucial insights into the composition and structure of their parent bodies, and enhance our understanding of their impact on the near‐Earth space environment. In this study, we present observations of meteor M20221224_183010 by the meteor and ionospheric irregularity observation system at Hainan, China. This meteoroid underwent extensive, multi‐stage fragmentation (with apparent visual debris but without any sharp spikes and flares) between altitudes of 81.0 and 41.1 km, with an entry velocity of 13.23 km/s. The right ascension and declination of the meteor are 16.27° and −6.8°, respectively, being originated possibly from debris of an Apollo asteroid. The meteor is primarily composed of fragile and comet‐like materials, but also contains regions with mechanical strengths comparable to carbonaceous meteorites, presenting significant internal heterogeneity due to variations in fragmentation resistance. The observation of a continuous emission spectrum indicates that the material distribution remained relatively homogeneous with a high content of Na. This meteoroid produced non‐field‐aligned plasma irregularities around 64–60 km altitudes. We surmise that the meteoroid's continuous fragmentation could produce dust particles, which rapidly acquire charge and form Bragg‐scale structures in low mesosphere, manifesting as non‐field‐aligned plasma irregularity backscatter echoes. Plain Language Summary: When meteoroids enter Earth's atmosphere, they always break up and interact with the upper layers of the atmosphere. In this study, we report a slow‐moving meteoroid, with an entry velocity of 13.23 km/s observed by the recently deployed meteor and ionospheric irregularity observation system at Hainan, China. As the meteoroid descended from 81 to 41 km in altitude, it fragmented multiple times without producing any large explosions/sharp flares. The possible origin of the meteoroid traces back to debris from an Apollo‐type asteroid. The meteoroid could contain both fragile, comet‐like material and some tougher, rock‐like parts, with a relatively uniform chemical composition rich in Na. Most interestingly, the meteoroid generated plasma density irregularities in low mesosphere around 64–60 km altitudes, where irregularities are not commonly observed. We propose that the continuous breakup of the meteoroid could release tiny particles that quickly became charged, helping form plasma structures. The results could improve our understanding on how meteoroids influence the near‐Earth space environment. Key Points: A long‐duration, slow‐entry meteor fragmented between 81 and 41 km, combining continuous and gross fragmentation without sharp flaresThe meteor presents structural heterogeneity but a uniform, Na‐rich composition, possibly from Apollo‐type asteroidsPlasma irregularities formed at 64–60 km, suggesting a possible link to charged dust from meteoroid fragmentation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Abstract:Observations of meteoroids and their associated phenomena in the atmosphere provide crucial insights into the composition and structure of their parent bodies, and enhance our understanding of their impact on the near‐Earth space environment. In this study, we present observations of meteor M20221224_183010 by the meteor and ionospheric irregularity observation system at Hainan, China. This meteoroid underwent extensive, multi‐stage fragmentation (with apparent visual debris but without any sharp spikes and flares) between altitudes of 81.0 and 41.1 km, with an entry velocity of 13.23 km/s. The right ascension and declination of the meteor are 16.27° and −6.8°, respectively, being originated possibly from debris of an Apollo asteroid. The meteor is primarily composed of fragile and comet‐like materials, but also contains regions with mechanical strengths comparable to carbonaceous meteorites, presenting significant internal heterogeneity due to variations in fragmentation resistance. The observation of a continuous emission spectrum indicates that the material distribution remained relatively homogeneous with a high content of Na. This meteoroid produced non‐field‐aligned plasma irregularities around 64–60 km altitudes. We surmise that the meteoroid's continuous fragmentation could produce dust particles, which rapidly acquire charge and form Bragg‐scale structures in low mesosphere, manifesting as non‐field‐aligned plasma irregularity backscatter echoes. Plain Language Summary: When meteoroids enter Earth's atmosphere, they always break up and interact with the upper layers of the atmosphere. In this study, we report a slow‐moving meteoroid, with an entry velocity of 13.23 km/s observed by the recently deployed meteor and ionospheric irregularity observation system at Hainan, China. As the meteoroid descended from 81 to 41 km in altitude, it fragmented multiple times without producing any large explosions/sharp flares. The possible origin of the meteoroid traces back to debris from an Apollo‐type asteroid. The meteoroid could contain both fragile, comet‐like material and some tougher, rock‐like parts, with a relatively uniform chemical composition rich in Na. Most interestingly, the meteoroid generated plasma density irregularities in low mesosphere around 64–60 km altitudes, where irregularities are not commonly observed. We propose that the continuous breakup of the meteoroid could release tiny particles that quickly became charged, helping form plasma structures. The results could improve our understanding on how meteoroids influence the near‐Earth space environment. Key Points: A long‐duration, slow‐entry meteor fragmented between 81 and 41 km, combining continuous and gross fragmentation without sharp flaresThe meteor presents structural heterogeneity but a uniform, Na‐rich composition, possibly from Apollo‐type asteroidsPlasma irregularities formed at 64–60 km, suggesting a possible link to charged dust from meteoroid fragmentation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:21699097
DOI:10.1029/2025JE009448