[gilgoomesh]

Almost exclusively due to the data collection method. Specifically, only recorded strikes are shown -- someone had to find the meteorite and publish its existence. Hence the dense jungles of Congo are relatively empty compared to the well trodden plains of Kenya.

Also notice: the only plotted strikes in Antarctica are right near the scientific stations -- but the intensity is very high at those points.

If you plotted theoretical meteorite distributions, there would be more strikes at the poles than the equator (due to the Earth's rotation, the poles receive many more meteorites) but at a given latitude the distribution would be even.

[wtvanhest]

Also notice: the only plotted strikes in Antarctica are right near the scientific stations -- but the intensity is very high at those points.

If you plotted theoretical meteorite distributions, there would be more strikes at the poles than the equator (due to the Earth's rotation, the poles receive many more meteorites) but at a given latitude the distribution would be even.

Could someone who understands this really well explain why the rotation of earth would change the number of meteorite strikes near the equator?

(It seems to me that strikes should be completely randomly distributed across the earth's surface and if a meteorite was headed for one area of the equator and the earth was spinning, the meteorite would simply hit another area of the equator.) I'm probably missing something here, but I can't figure out what.