The Fluctuating Population of Earth Impactors
From The Space Library
Author - M.E. Bailey et al
Co-Author(s) - M. E. Bailey; W. M. Napier
JBIS Volume # - 52
Page # - 185-194
Year - 1999
Keywords -
JBIS Reference Code # - 1999.52.185
Number of Pages - 10
Abstract
The sources and evolution of the small-body population in the near-Earth environment are reviewed, and the broad consequences of small-body impact are considered in outline. Uncertainties in the impact rate are emphasised along with factors which might cause it to vary. We highlight the likely importance of rare, giant comets in the structure and evolution of the near-Earth environment, and finally draw attention to a scarcely discussed, but possibly major, small-body hazard: that the Earth might on occasion encounter dust concentrations sufficiently dense to cause a sharp, global climatic cooling.
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