H.Baker: Yes, this 774-775AD event has been discussed a little by some of us. I believe that this event may have caused a 10C rise in temperature _in one year_, according to Antarctic core data. Or perhaps our "thermometer", which itself depends upon isotope data, was majorly upset by an xray blast.

--WDS: (first of all, H.Baker put all the above and more on a SINGLE LINE OF TEXT with nary a single carriage return. This is impolite.) Second, the papers the H-N paper cited re bio-havoc effects of the gamma burst, actually forecast it would cause global *cooling*, not warming, due to NOx causing increased atmosphere opacity. Like I said, I am dubious of all of that analysis. I do not know how a big warming could be forecast -- the direct energy of the burst, equivalent to a few seconds of sunlight, would have essentially zero effect on earth temperature. Anyhow, was there a rise of 10C in 775 AD??? I find that extremely hard to believe, since it would have been noted by observers at the time. If instead Baker is merely claiming oxygen isotope ratios got thrown off in 775AD, then THAT might be compatible with the whole gamma burst hypothesis and is a superb added piece of evidence for it, which you should point out to the authors. -- Warren D. Smith http://RangeVoting.org <-- add your endorsement (by clicking "endorse" as 1st step)