As the surface of the Earth continues to buzz from the burdens of climate change, the upper atmosphere faces completely different problems as greenhouse gases threaten sustainability. A new study warns that the future can lead to a sharp increase in space debris where satellites begin to stumble in the Earth’s orbit due to climate change.
the TicketRecently published in Nature’s sustainabilityWarnings that greenhouse gases cause the upper atmosphere to cool and shrink, leaving satellites unable to drown to reduce heights as they should burn. Instead, they are stuck in a less dense atmosphere, and they can now start collision often. Expectations from the study imagine a seriously crowded upper atmosphere in the coming years.
Crisis in the upper atmosphere
Warmous gases such as C02, besieged in the lower atmosphere, pulled the heat down from the upper atmosphere. The effect of cooling in the upper atmosphere reduces the density, thus reduces clouds in the atmosphere on satellites, which it usually pulls to the Earth. As a result, satellite life may be extended in the low -Earth orbit.
The Alawite atmosphere can only carry a lot of satellites before things begin to become dangerous. In the new study, researchers were aiming to assess the “satellite capacity” of some interests of interest, or “shells”, in the low -Earth orbit by creating a simulation of carbon emissions scenarios.
The researchers found that increased emissions over the next century, may contribute to lower pregnancy capacity in the low ground orbit. Based on this scenario, they estimate that the absorptive capacity – or the amount of satellites that can be found safely at the altitudes of 200 and 1000 km – can be reduced by 50 to 66 percent by the end of this century.
Read more: What is unwanted on space and why is it a problem?
A boom of satellite launch operations
Overing the absorptive capacity would create unstable areas as the collisions will create a lot of satellite debris to work safely there. The researchers say that some areas are at risk of overcrowding due to satellite launch waves over the past few years.
William Parker, the main author, a graduate student in the Department of Technical Institute of Lirtro, said in a statement. One of [the] The main things we are trying to understand are whether the path we are today is sustainable. “
There are currently more than 10,000 satellites that occupy a low orbit of Earth, and this number is expected to rise in the coming years. Mega-ConstellesWhich are hundreds of hundreds or thousands of satellites that are launched in space, can begin to destabilize the already crowded areas in the upper atmosphere. Starlink, one of these towers headed by Spacex, is looking to launch up to 42,000 satellites.
Clean space
While the tasks are not thwarted Space To date, the risk of damage is still present. According to the European Space Agency, Collision With the presence of more than 1 cm debris, it can disrupt a spacecraft, and clashes with debris can cause local damage.
ESA plans to partnership with ClearsPace Swiss Aerospace to launch the first removal of space project In 2025, he sent a “chase” spacecraft to recover the target of space wreck with its four automatic arms. However, the cost and possibility of pollution in the atmosphere related to these types of projects raised concerns.
The new study offers another solution here on the ground: reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Doing this may help restore the system to the upper atmosphere.
“We rely on the atmosphere to clean our debris. If the atmosphere changes, the debris environment will also change.” “We show long -term expectations on orbital debris depend on a curbing of our greenhouse gas emissions.”
Read more: Space scrap is located in aircraft aircraft tracks, but the chances of influence are low
condition sources
Our book is in DiscoverMagazine.com Use studies reviewed by peers and high -quality sources of our articles, and review our editors for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:
Jack Knudson is an auxiliary editor in Discover with strong interest in science and environmental history. Before joining Discover in 2023, he studied journalism at Scripps Communications College at the University of Ohio and previously trained in Recycling Toy.
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