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Effects of gamma ray bursts in Earth’s biosphere

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Abstract

We continue former work on the modeling of potential effects of Gamma Ray Bursts on Phanerozoic Earth. We focus on global biospheric effects of ozone depletion and model the spectral reduction of light by NO2 formed in the stratosphere. We also illustrate the current complexities involved in the prediction of how terrestrial ecosystems would respond to this kind of burst. We conclude that more biological field and laboratory data are needed to reach even moderate accuracy in this modeling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Universidad Central de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba

    Osmel Martin & Rolando Cardenas

  2. Marine Ecology Group, Center for Research of Coastal Ecosystems, Cayo Coco, Ciego de Avila, Cuba

    Mayrene Guimarais

  3. Department of Biology, Universidad Central de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba

    Liuba Peñate

  4. Department of Astronomy, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Jorge Horvath & Douglas Galante

Authors
  1. Osmel Martin
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  2. Rolando Cardenas
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  3. Mayrene Guimarais
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  4. Liuba Peñate
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  5. Jorge Horvath
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  6. Douglas Galante
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rolando Cardenas.

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Martin, O., Cardenas, R., Guimarais, M. et al. Effects of gamma ray bursts in Earth’s biosphere. Astrophys Space Sci 326, 61–67 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-009-0211-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-009-0211-7

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