I highly doubt it’s anywhere close to being significant
ClearlyCylindrical on
> This expected increase in human-made space debris concerns scientists because, unlike meteorites, satellites are made of alloys containing aluminium and other metals that oxidize into chemical compounds not otherwise present in the atmosphere. The most concerning of those is aluminium oxide, or alumina, a white powder that acts like “sunscreen” in the atmosphere preventing sunlight from penetrating closer to the surface.
Tbh, assuming other side effects are minimal, this is probably not too bad a thing — accidental geoengineering to cool the earth a bit. It’s a bit like how the ships in the Atlantic were emitting SO2 which seeded clouds to modify the albedo of the earth by reflecting more sunlight, thus creating a cooling effect on the Atlantic, which promptly stopped when they were required to use low-sulphur fuels.
Slagggg on
We have enough shit to worry about without inventing stuff. You know how many thousands of tons of space rocks are vaporized in the atmosphere every year? All of them contain trace amounts of every element on the periodic table. Reentering satellites. Really. People are stupid. If you believe this is an issue, you are beyond help.
How about we instead talk about making sure the stuff that doesn’t burn up is safe.
3 Comments
I highly doubt it’s anywhere close to being significant
> This expected increase in human-made space debris concerns scientists because, unlike meteorites, satellites are made of alloys containing aluminium and other metals that oxidize into chemical compounds not otherwise present in the atmosphere. The most concerning of those is aluminium oxide, or alumina, a white powder that acts like “sunscreen” in the atmosphere preventing sunlight from penetrating closer to the surface.
Tbh, assuming other side effects are minimal, this is probably not too bad a thing — accidental geoengineering to cool the earth a bit. It’s a bit like how the ships in the Atlantic were emitting SO2 which seeded clouds to modify the albedo of the earth by reflecting more sunlight, thus creating a cooling effect on the Atlantic, which promptly stopped when they were required to use low-sulphur fuels.
We have enough shit to worry about without inventing stuff. You know how many thousands of tons of space rocks are vaporized in the atmosphere every year? All of them contain trace amounts of every element on the periodic table. Reentering satellites. Really. People are stupid. If you believe this is an issue, you are beyond help.
How about we instead talk about making sure the stuff that doesn’t burn up is safe.