Crucial research into the effects of rocket and satellite air pollution on Earth’s atmosphere is reportedly being cut as part of Donald Trump administration’s cuts to climate science budgets. Experts say the cancellation comes at the worst time and will cause a major setback for the emerging field of science.
Research funding for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is set to be cut by an estimated $1.52 billion with funding covering climate science to be hit the hardest, according to Science.
These cuts are expected to include funding for NOAA’s Office of Atmospheric Research, which has overseen multiple research projects assessing the impact of rocket and satellite air pollution on Earth’s atmosphere, The Guardian reported.
Samantha Lawler, an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Regina in Canada, who has previously campaigned for stricter regulations of satellite megaconstellations, told Space.com that the cancellation of the NOAA research comes at a critical point in human history. Over the past fifteen years the number of satellites orbiting Earth has increased tenfold. With that, the quantity of space junk spiraling back and burning up in the atmosphere is quickly rising.
“Just last month, we’ve averaged three Starlink re-entries per day,” Lawler told Space.com. “That’s a lot of metal being added to the upper atmosphere. Right now is a very sensitive time to cut this research. The re-entries are really rising quickly. If we stop measuring what is happening in the atmosphere right now, we could be way beyond the point where we can stop the damage that’s being done.”
Satellites are mostly made of aluminum, which is not naturally found in noticeable quantities in meteorites that enter Earth’s atmosphere. Satellites also contain lithium and other materials that don’t naturally occur in the higher atmospheric layers. Scientists are particularly concerned about the effects of aluminum incineration as aluminum oxides produced during the high-altitude burn-up are known to cause ozone depletion.
These particles could also affect the atmosphere’s thermal balance. So could soot particles emitted in rocket exhaust. Scientists worry that all these human-made chemicals entering the otherwise pristine layers of the upper stratosphere and mesosphere could lead to further climate disruptions and exacerbate the carbon-related climate change that is already underway.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Latest from Space.com…