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From: Jesse Ferrell (WeatherMatrix) (jesse{at}weathermatrix.net)
Date: Mon Feb 03 2003 - 17:11:17 EST
Here is a dissenting view in regards to the "debris on radar" that has been
spread by the media. I could buy this... the trail reminded me of military
chaff that we occasionally see on weather radar.
In regards to:
\
>[CNN is reporting] Debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia was being
picked up by National
>Weather Service Doppler Radars in Texas and Louisiana this morning:
-- =================================================================== Jesse Ferrell - Meteorologist / Webmaster / Founder - WeatherMatrix------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 10:00:52 -0500 From: "Todd L. Sherman / KB4MHH" <afn09444{at}AFN.ORG> Subject: "Debris Path" = Ionized Contrail (sigh!)
CNN and CBS are apparently spreading word that what was a common "ionized gas contrail" was actually (short bongo intro) "...THE SHUTTLE'S _DEBRIS_ TRAIL!"
That is inaccurate.
Every time there is a shuttle entry, around the time of max heating, there is an ionized gas contrail. The superheating of the atmosphere caused by the shuttle suddenly SLAMMING into air particles at such unimaginably great high speeds literally rips electrons right off of atoms in the atmosphere. We see it visibly as a plasma contrail. (Especially cool to see, at night.) The radar sees it as you saw it yesterday. It is an atmospheric effect.
Maybe someone else can explain it in better technical detail, but I think the above should do for most.
<snip>
The shuttle does this EVERY time it comes in. People have videos, day or night, of the shuttle's contrail for EVERY mission. This is a NORMAL effect of high speed atmospheric reentry. It occurs during the time of Maximum Heating. Intermittent comms are also normal and expected during that period (the "blackout" period).
What the Press MEANT was that at the time that the ionized contrail first appeared, it outlined part of the path of the shuttle on its reentry. They should have stopped there. Beyond that, the "personal interpretations" by any reporter of what it was were not necessary, and only served to confuse.
<snip>
Should people feel embarrassed? No. Should the Press? Yes. The Press owes everyone some apology - especially for the sickening way in which this normal effect was described to them. I guess they felt it wasn't important to "elaborate" in a little better detail just what, exactly, that contrail was. "Eh. Gets more attention if we don't." Right?
But no, it was NOT the parts and pieces of the shuttle floating around in the sky for as long as HALF THE DAY. (At least, not so much as the Press led everyone to believe. If Joe Average Public listened to THEM, then I can't blame them for coming to the conclusion that the ionized contrail was 100-percent vaporized shuttle and bodies.) We trust the Press to know what they're talking about, because it's _supposed_ to be their job...you'd think, anyway. But...I guess not, anymore. They must have stopped teaching the parts about being accurate, these days. "Accuracy not required" must be the notice in the paper, now.
<snip>
As for the real debris, that all fell to the earth very quickly after 9am, as you all saw.
Anyway, I hope this makes people feel a little "better" about the contrail, anyway. (Whatever "better" is.) It's not _quite_ what the Press has been making it out to be.
While what happened was tragic, I don't think it's fair or right that the Press has been so callous with its details over this.
Todd
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