Why Do Meteorites Not Land in Populated Areas?
Why Do Meteorites Not Land in Populated Areas?
It is a common misconception that meteorites specifically target uninhabited areas. In reality, the landings of meteorites in populated regions are statistically rare. This article aims to explore the reasons behind this misconception and the actual facts.
Earths Surface Coverage and Human Population Distribution
Around 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, leaving only a small percentage of the land available. Furthermore, a significant portion of this land is uninhabited, including deserts, mountains, and forests. With most of the Earth's population concentrated in urban areas, making up a small fraction of the Earth's surface, it statistically makes sense why meteorites often land in uninhabited regions.
Detection Bias
Many meteorites that land in uninhabited areas go undetected. When a meteorite strikes a populated area, it is much more likely to be reported and recovered, leading to a skewed perception that meteorites rarely hit inhabited regions. This detection bias further reinforces the idea that meteorites prefer uninhabited areas.
Size and Frequency
Most meteorites are small and burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, so only a fraction that survive to land on Earth are large enough to be noticed. Additionally, these surviving meteorites land in remote locations due to pure chance. Therefore, meteorites that pose a noticeable risk (like larger objects) are naturally more likely to land in unpopulated areas.
Contrary Evidence and Large Meteorites
It is important to note that meteorites can and do fall in populated areas. In fact, numerous incidents have been documented where meteorites have hit or damaged buildings in towns and cities. Some notable examples include:
Peekskill, USA - In 1992, a meteorite struck a parked car and caused damage to the vehicle and its occupants' vehicle during a concert.
Santa Filomena, Brazil - In 2007, a meteorite crashed through the roof of a house and damaged part of the building.
Kolang, Indonesia - In 2016, a meteorite landed in a container, causing damage to the goods inside.
Chelyabinsk, Russia - In 2013, a large meteorite entered Earth's atmosphere and caused significant damage, resulting in over 1,000 injuries.
These examples illustrate that meteorites can indeed cause significant damage in populated areas. Furthermore, if a large meteorite like the Tunguska object were to fall, it would likely cause wide-ranging uninhabitation around its impact site, even if the area was initially sparsely populated.
Rare Damages and Human Safety
While it is rare for meteorites to cause direct harm to people, there is one notable incident where a small meteorite did cause a minor injury. In 2011, a small meteorite came through the roof of a home in Rajasthan, India, and slightly injured the woman inside, demonstrating the potential risks even in seemingly remote areas.
In conclusion, meteorites do not specifically target uninhabited areas, but rather, their landings in these regions are a result of statistical probability, human population distribution, and detection bias. Multiple documented cases show that meteorites can and do fall in populated areas, often causing damage and sometimes even injury.