Abstract
The mechanism proposed in 1980 by Keay to explain the occasional observation of instantaneous electrophonic sounds from large meteor fireballs continues to gain support. This mechanism accounts for many of the empirical features of the phenomenon, and the detection of ELF electromagnetic waves by direct transduction explains various other geophysical electrophonic phenomena including early sounds from seismic events. The extension of Ceplecha's fireball model to include Revelle's criterion for turbulence leads to realistic estimates for the frequency of occurrence of electrophonic fireballs. It also appears possible that the type of electrophonic sound observed relates to the composition of the fireball.
Geophysical electrophonic phenomena may explain many baffling reports from ancient historical writings.
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Keay, C. Continued progress in electrophonic fireball investigations. Earth Moon Planet 68, 361–368 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00671527
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00671527