# How much energy did the explosion release? · 1908 Tunguska event > Three answers have been proposed. About 10–15 Mt (range 10–40 Mt), from barograms, seismograms and forest damage scaled to nuclear tests. leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tunguska-event/questions/QST0D4ECB0G12FX/how-much-energy-did-the-explosion-release Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:57+00:00 --- **0** # How much energy did the explosion release? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What kind of body, if any, caused the Tunguska explosion?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tunguska-event/questions/QST0D4ECARP6DFM/what-kind-of-body-if-any-caused-the-tunguska-explosion)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: about 10–15 Mt (range 10–40 Mt), from barograms, seismograms and forest damage scaled to nuclear tests** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. About 10–15 Mt (range 10–40 Mt), from barograms, seismograms and forest damage scaled to nuclear tests. leads, with evidence 2 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The energy sets the size of the body and the frequency of such events; estimates differ by a factor of three or more depending on method⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4EBZ1P3HTE/the-tunguska-meteorite-problem-today)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4EBXTM7WQJ/low-altitude-airbursts-and-the-impact-threat). ## Answers 3 [**About 10–15 Mt (range 10–40 Mt), from barograms, seismograms and forest damage scaled to nuclear tests.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tunguska-event/answers/ANS0D4ECFWR7DQC/about-1015-mt-range-1040-mt-from-barograms-seismograms-and) Supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**About 3–5 Mt, because the downward momentum of the fireball focused damage on the ground.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tunguska-event/answers/ANS0D4ECGM61PBH/about-35-mt-because-the-downward-momentum-of-the-fireball) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tunguska-event/answers/ANS0D4ECHBM13BY/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1975[Ben-Menahem: seismic analysis at four stations gives a consistent source.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4EBYA8784H/source-parameters-of-the-siberian-explosion-of-june-30-1908)For: About 10–15 Mt (range 10–40 Mt), from barograms, seismograms and forest damage scaled to nuclear tests. 1. 1998[Vasilyev puts forward: about 10–15 Mt (range 10–40 Mt), from barograms, seismograms and forest damage scaled to nuclear tests.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4EBZ1P3HTE/the-tunguska-meteorite-problem-today) 1. 2008[Boslough & Crawford puts forward: about 3–5 Mt, because the downward momentum of the fireball focused damage on the ground.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4EBXTM7WQJ/low-altitude-airbursts-and-the-impact-threat) 1. 2008[Boslough & Crawford: hydrocode simulations including the fireball's momentum give 3–5 Mt.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4EBXTM7WQJ/low-altitude-airbursts-and-the-impact-threat)For: About 3–5 Mt, because the downward momentum of the fireball focused damage on the ground. 1. 2019[Robertson & Mathias: tree-resistance modelling suggests about 10 Mt is most likely.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4EBY2E0M3E/hydrocode-simulations-of-asteroid-airbursts-and-constraints)For: About 10–15 Mt (range 10–40 Mt), from barograms, seismograms and forest damage scaled to nuclear tests. 1. 2019[Robertson & Mathias: tree-resistance modelling finds 3 Mt a lower bound rather than a best estimate.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4EBY2E0M3E/hydrocode-simulations-of-asteroid-airbursts-and-constraints)Against: About 3–5 Mt, because the downward momentum of the fireball focused damage on the ground. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tunguska-event/questions/QST0D4ECB0G12FX/how-much-energy-did-the-explosion-release%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tunguska-event/questions/QST0D4ECB0G12FX/how-much-energy-did-the-explosion-release%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tunguska-event/questions/QST0D4ECB0G12FX/how-much-energy-did-the-explosion-release%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tunguska-event/questions/QST0D4ECB0G12FX/how-much-energy-did-the-explosion-release%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/tunguska-event/questions/QST0D4ECB0G12FX/how-much-energy-did-the-explosion-release%23add-source) Where it fits 1908 Tunguska event [**What kind of body, if any, caused the Tunguska explosion?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tunguska-event/questions/QST0D4ECARP6DFM/what-kind-of-body-if-any-caused-the-tunguska-explosion)Key question · most likely a stony asteroid some 50–80 m across that broke up and exploded about 8.5 km up [Did the explosion leave a magnetic signature in the ground at the epicentre?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/tunguska-event/questions/QST0D4ECBQY6AFV/did-the-explosion-leave-a-magnetic-signature-in-the-ground)Most likely · the anomalies reflect the local geology only **How much energy did the explosion release?** You're here · about 10–15 Mt (range 10–40 Mt), from barograms, seismograms and forest damage scaled to nuclear tests [ Ask a question under this one ]