Meteoriititettä

Meteoriititettä, a Finnish term, translates to "meteorite dust" in English. It refers to the fine particulate matter that results from the disintegration of meteoroids as they enter Earth's atmosphere. These meteoroids, which are small rocky or metallic bodies originating from space, burn up due to friction and compression with the air. The remnants of this burning process often form tiny particles, or dust, that can drift down to the Earth's surface.

This dust is incredibly small, often microscopic in size, and can be composed of various minerals and elements depending on the original composition of the meteoroid. Over geological timescales, the accumulation of meteoric dust has contributed to the composition of Earth's crust and sedimentary rocks. Scientists can analyze meteoric dust to learn about the origins and composition of materials in our solar system. It is distinct from terrestrial dust and volcanic ash due to its extraterrestrial origin and characteristic elemental signatures. While much of it burns up completely, a small fraction reaches the ground, often becoming indistinguishable from terrestrial dust once it mixes with soil and other materials.