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Climatic effects during passage of the Solar System through interstellar clouds

Abstract

IT seems likely that the Solar System passes through regions where there are a large number of dense interstellar clouds as the compression zone of the galactic spiral density wave passes the Sun. When this occurs, several processes may cause significant changes in the climate of the Earth and other planets. We discuss here the influences of compression of the solar wind cavity, accretion by the Sun, and paniculate input into the Earth's atmosphere. The first two may produce radiation hazards for life in addition to causing climate stress.

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TALBOT, R., BUTLER, D. & NEWMAN, M. Climatic effects during passage of the Solar System through interstellar clouds. Nature 262, 561–563 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/262561a0

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