Potential Ozone Depletion From Satellite Demise During Atmospheric Reentry

[paulsutton]

This was posted to the Fediverse recently and has created an interesting discussion, so I am posting the link to the research here too.

Potential Ozone Depletion From Satellite Demise During Atmospheric Reentry in the Era of Mega-Constellations

 

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024GL109280

 

Not quite sure what the solutions to this is really.   Perhaps there are multiple ideas, I can see Elon Musk haling the rollout of Starlink.

[swansont]

One should include some part of the research findings

“The byproducts generated by the reentry of satellites in a future scenario where mega-constellations come to fruition can reach over 360 metric tons per year. As aluminum oxide nanoparticles may remain in the atmosphere for decades, they can cause significant ozone depletion.”

(Moved from Science News, since this isn’t a news source)

[paulsutton]

Thanks, I will make a note to include some more information next time.

 

Paul