A research plane that flew through Earth's stratosphere identified more than 20 elements that are linked to the aerospace industry. Experts predict that the problem could become much worse in the future.
I’m pretty sure that the important bit here was the quality of those particles, not their quantity.
The study was designed to detect aerosols covered with “meteor dust” left behind by space rocks that burned up upon entry. Instead, the plane detected high levels of metallic elements contaminating the floating molecules, none of which could be explained by meteors or other natural processes.
The discovery “represents the first time that stratospheric pollution has been unquestionably linked to reentry of space debris,” researchers wrote in the statement.
In total, the study identified 20 different metallic elements that do not naturally occur in Earth’s atmosphere, including silver, iron, lead, magnesium, titanium, beryllium, chromium, nickel and zinc.
The team suspects that the main source of the pollution is rocket boosters that are ejected by rockets shortly after they clear the upper atmosphere, then fall back to Earth.
how much metal does the earth get anyway?
i know were constantly hit by metal objects which often burn up in the atmosphere. just trying to get some perspective…
About 100 tonnes of micrometeoroids burn up in the atmosphere every day.
thank you!
I’m pretty sure that the important bit here was the quality of those particles, not their quantity.