Carbon dioxide seriously thins the thickness of the upper atmosphere

Scientists from the Langley Research Center recently conducted a study on the effects of carbon dioxide on Earth’s atmosphere. For the first time, hypotheses regarding the negative effects of carbon dioxide can be observed directly.

The work was supported by NASA Timed. The results showed that this greenhouse gases Cools and shrinks the atmosphere. Note that the observations were mainly made in two layers of the atmosphere (mesosphere and thermosphere) still called MLT. At the level of those, carbon dioxide sends back infrared radiation. This refusal It causes the upper atmosphere to shrink Which also leads to increased drag. Martin Mlenjak, a scientist at NASA Langley Research Center, was the lead author of the study. The document has been published in the journal Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide shrinks the atmosphere through radiation

Then scientists observed in certain lower layers of the atmosphere the warming effect caused by carbon dioxide. This gas It absorbs and reflects infrared rays. In MLT, some of the radiation leaks into theouter spacethus favoring the cooling of the upper atmosphere.

According to ancient hypotheses, this drop in temperature It also causes the stratosphere to shrink. Through this study, we now know that this phenomenon also occurs at the level of the mesosphere and thermosphere. Based on the TIMED data, the team took note MLT lost about 1,333 metres of size. Approximately 342 meters Some of this shrinkage comes from the radiative cooling of carbon dioxide.

Unfortunately, according to other studies, CO2-induced convective cooling can lead to A 33% off Atmospheric clouds by 2070.

“At every rise there is a cooling and deflation that we partly attribute to the increase in carbon dioxide.”

Martin Mlenjak, scientist at NASA Langley Research Center

air congestion phenomenon

Thus, the shrinking of the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere caused by carbon dioxide is a greater danger. In fact, this loss of volume affects Also the drag force of the atmosphere. This results in a reduction of the forces that promote its cleaning. This means that satellite snippets and other ancient technologies are in orbit low floor It will probably stay in place for a while longer.

In fact, this prospect is profitable for new rockets because they will stay in orbit better. In turn, these monitoring machines will be forced toConstantly adjusting its trajectory to avoid collisions with the remains of their ancestors.

“One consequence is that the satellites will stay in place for longer. However, they will have to adjust their trajectory to avoid collisions.”

Martin Mlenjak, scientist at NASA Langley Research Center.