What is the ultimate biological consequence following the severe degradation of the ozone layer by a nearby Gamma-Ray Burst?
Answer
Increased UV-B and UV-C radiation causing mass extinction, particularly decimating phytoplankton
The ozone layer serves as the critical shield against the Sun’s most harmful ultraviolet radiation, specifically UV-B and UV-C. When a powerful GRB destroys this shield via $ ext{NO}_x$ production, this highly energetic radiation reaches the surface unimpeded. The ecological consequences are severe, targeting the base of the marine food web: phytoplankton. The decimation of these microscopic primary producers leads to a catastrophic collapse of oceanic ecosystems and subsequent disruption of the global food chain, representing a mass extinction event rather than immediate personal injury.
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