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Question
I read and understand that high-energy, high-frequency gamma rays are very penetrating. How then are they blocked by our atmosphere?
Hello,
This is actually not the serious problem many believe, the primary reason being that any gamma rays coming from astronomical objects have to travel enormous distances. As they do so, the intensity of the radiation decreases as the inverse square of the distance. So, in other words:
I ~ 1/d^2
Even gamma rays emitted by the Sun (as in the major flares of Oct. 1991), will not affect humans on the surface of the Earth on account of: a) the attenuation with distance (inverse square law), and b) the further attenuation in passing through the atmosphere.
For very large solar flares, or gamma ray bursts on the Sun, obviously any astronauts working in space have to be cognizant!
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Answers by Expert:
Philip Stahl
Expertise
I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.
Experience
Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.
Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union
Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.
Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics
Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research
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