In an EV thread, orbital debris is discussed. This re awakening might be more appropriate. It may seem paradoxical that increased CO2 in atmosphere could extend debris durations (lifetimes seems like the wrong word). It works like this: Troposphere heats, leaving less outgoing infrared. Then stratosphere cools (those parts are well studied). Stratosphere contracts, allowing the (further out) thermosphere to contract. At any given altitude thermosphere becomes less dense, so debris gets less frictional slowdown, and persists for longer. That increases probability of bumpercars. == All of that is counteracted by solar charged-particle fluxes. Notably when sun has lots of spots. Those have an opposite effect on thermosphere. Low earth orbit cleans itself a bit better of debris.
Concur. I'm still having a think about this. There's a lot of new 'panic porn' about this topic lately. Entertainment is where you find it..... 'Space Deathtrap': The terrifying way climate change could destroy low Earth orbit for good 'space deathtrap....' How DARE you!!!
" ...the asteroid that is going to hit us ..." A few months ago path calculations for 2024YR4 got above 3% IIRC. This was the highest % ever calculated for any of rocks out there. Additional observations were made causing the % to become known as much smaller Latest Calculations Conclude Asteroid 2024 YR4 Now Poses No Significant Threat to Earth in 2032 and Beyond – Planetary Defense
