Dead satellites are filling space with trash. That could affect Earth’s magnetic field | Sierra Solter
www.theguardian.com
Our ozone is pennies thick – and soon we’ll put at least an Eiffel Tower’s worth of metallic ash into the ionosphere every year

Opinion piece by Sierra Solter, “a plasma physicist, engineer, and inventor who studies the intersection of heliophysics and aerospace”. Relevant quote:

Upon investigating just how much dust in the form of satellite and rocket debris the space industry has dumped into the ionosphere during re-entry, I was alarmed to find that it is currently multiple Eiffel Tower’s worth of metallic ash. I wouldn’t have even been able to calculate that at all without a scientist’s personally run website. Our ozone is mere pennies thick, and soon we will be putting at least an Eiffel Tower’s worth of metallic ash a year directly into the ionosphere. And all of that will stay there, indefinitely.

How could we possibly think that burning trash in our atmosphere 24/7 is going to be fine?

  • silliewous@feddit.nlEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    Calling absolute BS on this one. Just by comparing “multiple Eifel towers” to just the amount of metal we use for e.g. screws is negligible. Leaving aside all other metal we have extracted, may extract and would never be able to extract.

    • hydroptic@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
      0·
      7 months ago

      Uh, how’s what you’re saying related to how putting tons of metal in the ionosphere may possibly be a bad idea?

      • silliewous@feddit.nlEnglish
        0·
        7 months ago

        Not saying it isn’t a bad idea. But it will do fuck all with the magnetic field of the earth.

        • hydroptic@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
          0·
          7 months ago

          Based on your assumption that because screws, which notably aren’t in the ionosphere, don’t affect the magnetic field, neither will putting tons of conductive material in the ionosphere despite there (ostensibly, according to this opinion piece) already being some sort of a measurable effect?