Meteor Induced Micropulsations

The production of geomagnetic micropulsations by meteors is investigated theoretically, and experimental measurements are reported which attempt to detect the meteor-induced signal. The theoretical treatment is of an ellipsoidal meteor trail having a conductivity which is enhanced over adjacent ionospheric regions and thus disturbs the normal ionospheric currents. The magnetic field perturbation at the surface of the earth is calculated from the altered current density. Amplitudes of magnetic signals as a function of meteor position and orientation relative to both observer and ionospheric current are obtained, and results indicate a maximum signal of several milligamma. Observations are reported which attempt to correlate magnetic variations recorded by induction detectors and photoelectrically observed meteors. No obvious correlation was seen in the record covering 59 sporadic meteors. However, statistical treatment of the data seems to indicate a magnetic signal on the fringe of detectability. (Author).