Numerical Modelling of Meteoroid Airbursts and Blastwaves

The Chelyabinsk event on 15 February 2013 brought to light the potential damage that can be caused by an airburst from a relatively small impactor. Near-Earth Objects of comparable size (1-100 m diameter) maybe more abundant than previously thought, are difficult to observe and may strike Earth with little to no warning. This makes being able to model their potential damage quickly and accurately imperative. Several semi-analytical models have been developed to predict the atmospheric energy deposition during catastrophic fragmentation of stony meteoroids. My project is based on evaluating these current models and developing new methods for probabilistic hazard assessment of potential impactors. This involves studying their breakup in the atmosphere, the blastwaves produced and their potential ground damage.