[SPACE] Magnetospheres for Binary Planets?

[lwcamp]

Originally Posted by Trachmyr

Thanks for the feedback, really appreciate it!
(Plus TeV you gave me a useful idea on how to model the planet's occassional radiation threat... pole reversals every few decades!)

For what it is worth, even without a magnetic field life on earth would be well protected from radiation by the 10 metric tons per square meter of air over our heads. Realistically, to have a radiation threat you would need a much thiner atmosphere which probably means humans cannot survive on the surface unaided.

You might see a depletion of the ozone layer with the lack of a magnetic field and high space radiation conditions, which would let more near UV through. This would result in more sunburn and a greater risk of skin cancer and cataracts, plus it might kill the leaves of earth plants (or other plants that have not adapted to harsh UV light).

Luke