Climatic and Biogeochemical Effects of a Galactic Gamma-Ray Burst

Simple item page
dc.creatorMelott, Adrian L.
dc.creatorThomas, Brian C.
dc.creatorHogan, Daniel P.
dc.creatorEjzak, Larissa M.
dc.creatorJackman, Charles H.
dc.date2005-03-29
dc.date2005-06-27
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-25T19:40:04Z
dc.descriptionIt is likely that one or more gamma-ray bursts within our galaxy have strongly irradiated the Earth in the last Gy. This produces significant atmospheric ionization and dissociation, resulting in ozone depletion and DNA-damaging ultraviolet solar flux reaching the surface for up to a decade. Here we show the first detailed computation of two other significant effects. Visible opacity of NO2 is sufficient to reduce solar energy at the surface up to a few percent, with the greatest effect at the poles, which may be sufficient to initiate glaciation. Rainout of dilute nitric acid is could have been important for a burst nearer than our conservative nearest burst. These results support the hypothesis that the characteristics of the late Ordovician mass extinction are consistent with GRB initiation.
dc.description12 pages, 2 figures, in press at Geophysical Research Letters. Minor revisions, including details on falsifying the hypothesis
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0503625
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0503625
dc.identifierGeophys.Res.Lett. 32 (2005) L14808
dc.identifierdoi:10.1029/2005GL023073
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.dare.co.zw/handle/123456789/66575
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.subjectAtmospheric and Oceanic Physics
dc.subjectGeophysics
dc.subjectSpace Physics
dc.subjectPopulations and Evolution
dc.titleClimatic and Biogeochemical Effects of a Galactic Gamma-Ray Burst
dc.typetext

Files

Collections

Artificial intelligence