評論
打印
An asteroid splashdown in one of Earth's oceans could trigger a destructive chemical cycle that would wipe out half of the ozone layer, according to a new study. The massive loss of protection against the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation would likely force humans into a vampire-style existence of staying indoors during daylight hours.
最新科學研究顯示，小行星墜入地球海洋會引發毀滅性的化學連鎖反應，導致50%的臭氧層消失。缺少了臭氧層對太陽紫外線輻射的抵擋，人類將有可能被迫過起“吸血鬼”般的生活——白天只能躲在屋子里。
The worst scenario based on an asteroid 1 kilometer wide would re-create the hole in the ozone layer, which appeared over Antarctica during the 1990s, except this would be worldwide. UV levels in the study's simulation soared beyond anything measured so far on Earth by the UV Index's daily forecasts of overexposure to UV radiation, and remained that way for as long as two years.
早在上世紀90年代，南極洲上空就已出現臭氧空洞。此次研究發現，直徑達1000米的小行星撞擊地球后也會出現臭氧空洞，且危害波及整個地球。研究結果顯示，模擬太陽紫外線輻射在撞擊后飆升，超過了此前在地球上測量的所有紫外線輻射指數預報數據，并且會以這種狀態保持兩年。
Researchers tested scenarios with a 0.6-mile asteroid and a 0.3-mile asteroid (500 meters) at a specific location and specific time of year. Models used in the research showed how ozone destruction would result from an asteroid strike launching seawater vapor hundreds of miles up into the highest parts of the atmosphere. Chemical elements such as chloride and bromide that separated from the water vapor could then wreak havoc by destroying the ozone layer that protects life on Earth from UV rays.
在實驗中，研究人員測試了特定時間特定地點下直徑分別為1000米和500米的小行星。研究人員通過觀察模型發現了小行星墜落入地球海洋后的臭氧層破滅過程：巨大的撞擊力量使得海水蒸汽上升至大氣層最高點，隨后氯化物及溴化物等化學物質脫離水汽，毀壞保護人類免受輻射的臭氧層。
