Meteors can emit radio waves
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.027981
New Scientist : A new source of low-frequency radio emissions has been discovered: fireballs, or brighter-than-usual meteors that hurtle through Earth’s atmosphere. As a fireball travels, it generates a bright plasma trail, which produces radio waves as it cools. Although first proposed almost a half century ago, the phenomenon has now been imaged by the Long Wavelength Array observatory in New Mexico. The array caught 10 low-frequency radio bursts that correlated with known fireballs. The finding could help scientists better understand not only meteors but other plasma-creating events in Earth’s atmosphere, such as lightning strikes and ball lightning.
