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Terrestrial Ozone Depletion Due to a Milky Way Gamma-Ray BurstBased on cosmological rates, it is probable that at least once in the last Gy the Earth has been irradiated by a gamma-ray burst in our Galaxy from within 2 kpc. Using a two-dimensional atmospheric model we have computed the effects upon the Earth's atmosphere of one such burst. A ten second burst delivering 100 kJ/sq m to the Earth results in globally averaged ozone depletion of 35%, with depletion reaching 55% at some latitudes. Significant global depletion persists for over 5 years after the burst. This depletion would have dramatic implications for life since a 50% decrease in ozone column density results in approximately three times the normal UVB flux. Widespread extinctions are likely, based on extrapolation from UVB sensitivity of modern organisms.
Document ID
20050179464
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Thomas, Brian C. (Kansas Univ. Lawrence, KS, United States)
Jackman, Charles H. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Melott, Adrian L. (Kansas Univ. Lawrence, KS, United States)
Laird, Claude M. (Kansas Univ. Lawrence, KS, United States)
Stolarski, Richard S. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Gehrels, Neil (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Cannizzo, John K. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hogan, Daniel P. (Kansas Univ. Lawrence, KS, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2005
Subject Category
Exobiology
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG04GM41G
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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