Climate change isn’t just impacting our planet; it may soon cause problems up in space, too. A new study from researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reveals that as global warming continues, it could significantly reduce the available space for satellites in low Earth orbit. Depending on carbon pollution levels, this reduction could be anywhere from one-third to 82% by the end of the century.
How does this happen? The greenhouse gases that warm the air near our planet’s surface also cause the upper atmosphere to cool down. This cooling makes the upper layers of the atmosphere less dense, which means less drag on the millions of bits of human-made debris floating around up there. Typically, this drag pulls space junk down toward Earth, where it burns up upon re-entry. But with less density, space junk will remain in orbit longer, leading to a cluttered environment, according to the study published in the journal Nature Sustainability.
Lead author Will Parker says, “We rely on the atmosphere to clean up our debris. There’s no other way to remove it.” Right now, there are millions of pieces of space debris, each larger than about a ninth of an inch—roughly the size of two stacked pennies. These tiny fragments can collide with the force of a bullet, while larger pieces, like those the size of a plum, can hit with the energy of a crashing bus. Most of this junk comes from old satellite crashes and rocket parts, with many pieces too small to track.
Currently, there are over 11,900 satellites orbiting Earth, with around 7,356 of them in low Earth orbit. These satellites play crucial roles in communications, navigation, weather forecasting, and more.
In the past, people thought that space was vast and unlimited, so they didn’t worry much about taking care of it. But a satellite collision back in 2009 showed just how messy it can get, creating thousands of pieces of debris. NASA has also reported a measurable decrease in atmospheric drag, making it clear that climate change plays a significant role in how we address space debris.
Experts like Ingrid Cnossen from the British Antarctic Survey agree that the findings make sense. As carbon emissions grow, the density of the upper atmosphere decreases by about 2% every decade, which could worsen the problem of space debris. Understanding these changes is vital for ensuring a sustainable future for our satellite networks.
Check out this related article: How Mark Carney’s Vision is Shaping Canada’s Climate Change Strategy
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