I highly doubt it’s anywhere close to being significant
ClearlyCylindrical on
> This expected increase in human-made space debris concerns scientists because, unlike meteorites, satellites are made of alloys containing aluminium and other metals that oxidize into chemical compounds not otherwise present in the atmosphere. The most concerning of those is aluminium oxide, or alumina, a white powder that acts like “sunscreen” in the atmosphere preventing sunlight from penetrating closer to the surface.
Tbh, assuming other side effects are minimal, this is probably not too bad a thing — accidental geoengineering to cool the earth a bit. It’s a bit like how the ships in the Atlantic were emitting SO2 which seeded clouds to modify the albedo of the earth by reflecting more sunlight, thus creating a cooling effect on the Atlantic, which promptly stopped when they were required to use low-sulphur fuels.
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I highly doubt it’s anywhere close to being significant
> This expected increase in human-made space debris concerns scientists because, unlike meteorites, satellites are made of alloys containing aluminium and other metals that oxidize into chemical compounds not otherwise present in the atmosphere. The most concerning of those is aluminium oxide, or alumina, a white powder that acts like “sunscreen” in the atmosphere preventing sunlight from penetrating closer to the surface.
Tbh, assuming other side effects are minimal, this is probably not too bad a thing — accidental geoengineering to cool the earth a bit. It’s a bit like how the ships in the Atlantic were emitting SO2 which seeded clouds to modify the albedo of the earth by reflecting more sunlight, thus creating a cooling effect on the Atlantic, which promptly stopped when they were required to use low-sulphur fuels.