Climate Change Impact: Space Junk Increasing in Earth's Orbit Due to Greenhouse Effect

A recent MIT study reveals that climate change is exacerbating the accumulation of space debris, potentially reducing satellite capacity in low Earth orbit by up to 82% by century's end. As upper atmosphere cooling reduces natural debris mitigation, space becomes increasingly crowded, posing risks for satellite operations.

A new study by MIT researchers highlights a growing concern as climate change begins to affect not just Earth but the space around it. The study indicates that the continuing use of fossil fuels may drastically reduce the available space for satellites in low Earth orbit by up to 82% by the century's end.

This reduction stems from the way climate change affects the atmosphere; warming at the surface level results in cooling of the upper atmosphere, decreasing air density, and lessening atmospheric drag that traditionally helps pull down space debris.

With the natural cleaning mechanism diminished, the space above Earth is becoming more cluttered with debris, posing risks to the existing 11,905 satellites crucial for communication and observation, according to experts. This increased congestion underscores the urgent need for awareness and strategies to mitigate climate change's less-known orbital effects.

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