airburst

An airburst occurs when an object, such as a meteoroid or asteroid, enters Earth's atmosphere at high speed and explodes before reaching the ground. The explosion releases energy, creating a powerful shockwave that can cause damage over a wide area. Unlike impacts that strike the surface directly, airbursts distribute their force through the atmosphere, often producing bright flashes and loud explosions visible from the ground. This phenomenon is responsible for events like the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor, where an object exploded in the sky, causing injuries from glass shards and widespread damage.