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Almost all gamma rays are absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, or deflected by the magnetosphere, but some do manage to get through. Those that reach the surface of the Earth are mostly secondary comic rays, which are produced when gamma rays or primary cosmic rays hit the top of the atmosphere.

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Do gamma rays hit the surface of earth?

Yes, gamma rays from outer space can reach the surface of the Earth. However, much of the high-energy gamma radiation is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, particularly the ozone layer, before reaching the surface.


What kind of radiation passes through the atmosphere and reaches the earths surface?

Most of the visible light and some of the ultraviolet and infrared radiation from the sun pass through the atmosphere and reach the Earth's surface. Other forms of radiation, such as gamma rays and X-rays, are mostly absorbed by the atmosphere and do not reach the surface.


Which type of electromagnetic waves has the highest frequency?

Gamma Rays are the highest frequency waves. Lower than that are X-rays then Ultraviolet. Then visible light, infrared, microwave, and radio waves are the lowest frequency. Here is a link which gives more information http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/science/toolbox/emspectrum1.html


What are gamma ray emitting objects on earth?

Gamma rays are extremely high energy electromagnetic radiation. The source of gamma rays is nuclear "change" like radioactive decay. Radioisotopes, which are either the natural or artificial radioactive isotopes of elements, occur in river deltas, granite, some older paints, some older ceramics, nuclear waste, and specifically irradiated materials that have been made radioactive to be applied to medical devices (like 60Co "pencils" used for medical treatment) or industrial imaging or irradiation sterilization equipments.


Why is the layers often called a cozy blanket around earth?

The entire atmosphere is considered the blanket for the earth because of the protection it provides from solar radiation. This includes gamma rays, X rays, and severe ultraviolet light. The way it works is as follows: Nitrogen in the atmosphere breaks down when exposed to gamma rays, and in the process the gamma rays are dissipated. Oxygen breaks down when exposed to X rays. And believe it or not, Ozone protects us from ultraviolet rays using the same process. Also, when an access amount of solar radiation hits the atmosphere the atoms get excited, and this effect causes the Aurora Borealis.

Related Questions

Do gamma rays hit the surface of earth?

Yes, gamma rays from outer space can reach the surface of the Earth. However, much of the high-energy gamma radiation is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, particularly the ozone layer, before reaching the surface.


Which layer of the atmosphere blocks gamma rays?

The ozone layer in the stratosphere blocks gamma rays from reaching the Earth's surface.


Why can gamma rays from objects in space not be detected on Earth's surface?

Gamma rays that originate from objects in space can be absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, making it difficult for them to reach the surface. Additionally, Earth's atmosphere shields us from harmful high-energy radiation like gamma rays, which is a good thing for life on Earth. To detect gamma rays from space, scientists use satellites or high-altitude balloons above Earth's atmosphere.


What would happen if Earth erupted gamma rays?

The earth would have to be a supermassive dying star to emit gamma rays.


Are Gamma rays harmful to earth?

Gamma rays are not necessarily harmful to the planet Earth, but to all the living organisms that inhabit it, as Gamma is a powerful form of radiation.


Are gamma rays blocked by the atmosphere?

Yes, a majority of gamma rays are blocked by the Earth's atmosphere. The atmosphere acts as a shield against the harmful effects of gamma rays by absorbing and scattering them. Only a small fraction of gamma rays from space can penetrate into Earth's atmosphere.


Why use satellites and earth orbiting observatories to study the universe at x ray or gamma ray wave lengths?

Those radiations hardly reach Earth's surface, because they are absorbed by the atmosphere.


Could gamma rays be blocked by the Earth's atmosphere?

Yes. Our atmosphere blocks cosmic and solar gamma rays.


What aspect of earth makes it difficult to observe Gamma rays X-rays and Ultraviolet rays?

high-energy radiation like X-rays and gamma rays are absorbed by our atmosphere


Does the earths atmosphere block Gamma rays X-rays and most UV light?

Ozone, on the surface of earth is a corrosive and poisonous gas but at the height of 20-50 km from the Earth i.e. in the earth's atmosphere, becomes vital to life as it absorbs almost all u.v. radiations which are harmful to living things.


Can gamma rays reach the ground from space?

Gamma rays from space are absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere. However, gamma rays can still be detected on the ground as it is naturally emitted by radioactive decay occurring in rocks.


What kind of gamma ray can penetrate solids?

Gamma rays are gamma rays are gamma rays.