<
https://theconversation.com/defunct-satellites-burning-up-in-the-atmosphere-could-damage-the-ozone-layer-heres-how-232592>
"Communications companies such as Starlink plan to launch tens of thousands of
satellites into orbit around Earth over the next decade or so. The growing
swarm is already causing problems for astronomers, but recent research has
raised another question: what happens when they start to come down?
When these satellites reach the end of their useful life, they will fall into
Earth’s atmosphere and burn up. Along the way, they will leave a trail of tiny
metallic particles.
According to a study published last week by a team of American researchers,
this satellite rain may dump 360 tonnes of tiny aluminium oxide particles in
the atmosphere each year. The aluminium will mostly be injected at altitudes
between 50 and 85 kilometres, but it will then drift down to the stratosphere –
home to Earth’s protective ozone layer.
What does that mean? According to the study, the satellite’s contrail could
facilitate ozone-destroying chemical reactions. That’s not wrong, but as we
will see the story is far from simple."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
