In November 1902, the greatest fall of matter in Australian history occurred — it rained mud in Tasmania on November 14. Haze extended from Australia to Hong Kong with hundreds of millions of tons of matter falling across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and Europe. Ships had crews shoveling mud off decks to prevent capsizing. Fires fell from the sky in Victoria, igniting houses. On February 14, 1903, the blackest darkness over Australia was followed by dust and mud on 40 towns in New South Wales and Victoria. Scientists at the time lacked explanations — meteorologists suggested African Sahara sand, but no storms were reported there, and Sahara sand is white, not red.
1902-1903 massive dust and meteor events affected multiple continents
Key facts
- In November 1902, the greatest fall of matter in Australian history occurred
- On November 14, 1902, it rained mud in Tasmania
- Haze extended from Australia to Hong Kong with hundreds of millions of tons of matter falling
- Dust and mud fell on Australia, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Europe in 1902-1903
- Ships had to have crews on deck to shovel mud off to prevent capsizing
- Fires fell from the sky in Victoria, Australia, igniting houses and buildings
- On February 14, 1903, the blackest darkness over Australia occurred, followed by dust and mud on 40 towns in New South Wales and Victoria
- Scientists at the time lacked explanations for the dust's origin outside of Earth
- Meteorologists initially suggested African sand from the Sahara, but no storms were reported there in 1903
- Sahara sand is white, not red
Sources
14 Nov 1902 - DUST STORM. - Trovetrove.nla.gov.au
About 3 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, a dust storm passed over the district, causing the whole of it to be developed in a cloud of dust, ...
Remarkable Meteorological Phenomena in Australia - NASA ADSui.adsabs.harvard.edu
On Wednesday, November 13, 1902, we experienced here in Australia some most extraordinary meteorological phenomena.
22 Nov 1902 - Rain of Fire-Balls - Trovetrove.nla.gov.au
ALLENDALE, November 12. A fierce and violent dust-storm has been. raging. Buildings were blown down, unroofed,. and fruit trees almost ruined. When the. storm ...
Newspapers | Taranaki Herald | 15 November 1902 - Papers Pastpaperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Volcanic Dust. FALLING OVER NEW ZEALAND. Per Press AsanscisLtiOß. Waipawa, November 15. An extraordinary cloud of dense dust, apparently issuing from the sea ...
10 Nov 1902 - DUSTSTORM AT EUGOWRA. - Trovetrove.nla.gov.au
A tremendous duststorm occurred here this afternoon about 2 o'clock. The town was in semi-darkness for some time. Then the storm went on towards Orange.
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