Climate change caused by carbon dioxide is making it harder for the Earth to self- clean its upper atmosphere, which in turn makes it harder for satellites to stay in space.
On the surface, that may be good news for satellite makers, who want their crafts to stay in space for as long as possible. Excess CO2 eats away at the density of the upper atmosphere, which means that polluted space debris stays in the air for longer.
The long-term decline in upper atmosphere density is making even space debris more of a problem for satellite operators.
The study used research models of the entire atmosphere to look at how the upper sphere has changed over the last 50 years.
"We saw changes in the climate in the upper atmosphere over the last 50 years, and our predictions for the next 50 are a result of carbon dioxide emissions."
Cnossen's research shows that greenhouse gases have a different impact on the atmosphere than they do on the Earth's surface.
As those CO2 particles suck up the limited available heat up there, the atmosphere shrinks and cools, in an effect that makes for a smooth, longer flight for satellites.
Satellite makers might be happy to see some crafts cruise around for longer than expected, but everyone stands to lose if space debris gets worse. Humans on the ground and in Spac e could face life-threatening consequences if new satellites become close-orbit junkyards.
"I hope this work will help to guide appropriate action to control the space pollution problem and ensure that the upper atmosphere remains a usable resource into the future."
Climate change helps keep space debris afloat.
Russia was forced to dodge space debris when it crashed a satellite.
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