Italian Ice
Rome - A large block of ice fell from the sky and smashed through the roof
of a pensioners' home in northern Italy at the weekend, rekindling
interest in one of meteorology's greatest mysteries.
Giuseppe and Antonia Filigura were having dinner in their home in Gabbio
di Nibionna, a small town near Lecco, on Sunday when they heard a loud
noise from upstairs, reported the Italian news agency, Ansa.
When the couple's son rushed upstairs, he discovered a hole in the roof
and fragments of ice scattered around the bedroom.
According to police, the incident echoes similar episodes that terrorized
central and northern Italy three years ago.
A chunk of ice weighing 750g fell from the sky above Ancona in January
2001, hitting Massimo Giunchi in the head. The workman wore two hats to
protect himself from the cold and had only minor injuries as a result.
More falling ice chunks were reported also in Milan, L'Aquila, Avellino
and Venice and followed a wave of unexplained ice falls taking place in
Spain.
Although pranksters were later identified as being responsible for a large
percentage of "mysterious ice drops", scientists still
have not come up with a definite hypothesis to explain the phenomenon.
One explanation is that the ice may have been produced naturally in the
atmosphere due to a previously unknown meteorological process. But
meteorologists have reacted with skepticism to such suggestions.
Another hypothesis, that the ice represents fragments of a comet, or
possibly mini-comets, that have fallen from space, has also been given a
lukewarm reception.
Other explanations point to human excrement ejected from aircraft or
blocks of ice that detached themselves from the wings of aircraft.