Metal pollution in the sky Space junk They burn up when they re-enter the atmosphere, a new study reveals. Researchers warn that these unexpected levels of pollution, which will rise sharply in the coming decades, could change our planet’s atmosphere in ways we don’t yet fully understand.
The paper was published in the journal on October 16 PNASIt is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Stratospheric Aerosol Processes, Budget, and Radiative Effects (SABRE) mission, which monitors the amount of aerosols—small particles suspended in the air—into the atmosphere.
The team used a research plane equipped with a special funnel in its nose cone that captures and analyzes aerosols to sample the stratosphere — the second layer of the atmosphere that extends from 7.5 to 31 miles (12 and 50 kilometers) above the planet’s surface. The probe is designed to detect “aerosols.Meteor „dust” left by space rocks that burned up upon entry. Instead, the spacecraft found high levels of metallic elements contaminating the floating molecules, none of which could be explained by meteorites or other natural processes.
There were two very surprising elements Niobium And Hafnium, both of which are rare earth metals used to make technological components such as batteries. Researchers were puzzled by the high levels of aluminum. Copper And Lithium.
The team didn’t expect to find these elements in the stratosphere and were initially confused about where they came from, said the study’s lead author. Daniel Murphyan atmospheric chemist at NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, said in a statement. Report. „But the combination of aluminum and copper, and niobium and hafnium, used in heat-resistant, high-performance alloys, pointed us toward the aerospace industry,” he said.
Related: 15 Weirdest Things We’ve Sent to Space
The discovery „marks that stratosphere for the first time Pollution „Undoubtedly linked to re-entry of space debris,” the researchers wrote in the report.
In total, the study identified 20 different metallic elements that do not occur naturally Earth’s atmosphereIncluding silver, iron, lead, magnesium, titanium, beryllium, chromium, nickel and zinc.
The team suspects the main source of pollution is rocket boosters, which are ejected shortly after rockets clear the upper atmosphere and then return to Earth.
Former China Criticized for constant uncontrollable reposts, responsible for many of these rocket booster reentries. However, this problem also exists Affected Russia and NASA.
Falling satellites with Abandoned, De-orbited by solar storms Or Crashed back to earth on purpose As they are incinerated, they are also likely to release large amounts of metal pollution.
Pollution from satellites will increase further More commercial satellites are launched into space. Of particular concern are the nearly 9,000 satellites currently in low-Earth orbit, all of which are destined to eventually return to Earth. Now circulating.
In total, about 10% of the aerosols from the new study were contaminated with space debris metals. But researchers predict that this will rise to around 50% in the next few decades.
It is currently too early to tell what long-term effects this pollution will have on our planet. But past atmospheric pollutants such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Holes in the ozone layer. Aerosols play a role in reflecting sunlight back into space, which is important for mitigating the effects. Climate change.
„A lot of work” will be needed to „understand the impacts” of these metals in the atmosphere, Murphy said.
„Oddany rozwiązywacz problemów. Przyjazny hipsterom praktykant bekonu. Miłośnik kawy. Nieuleczalny introwertyk. Student.