• intrepid@lemmy.ca
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    7 months ago

    There are reports that say that frequent rocket launches can damage layers in the upper atmosphere that are crucial to our survival.

    • over_clox@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      Yep, I’ve caught a few articles on that as well ☹️

      Don’t worry though, at the present rate we’re going, humans will likely be extinct by the year 2100 or so, while many are daydreaming about moving to other already dead space rocks…

      • intrepid@lemmy.ca
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        7 months ago

        I’m skeptical about this report though. The magnetosphere extends way beyond the atmosphere where the space junk burns up. And most metal fragments reach the surface. The metal dust that may remain suspended in the ionosphere doesn’t have the ability to block the magnetic field (the ionosphere already has a distinct sodium layer). All that aside, there are tonnes of metallic meteoroids entering the atmosphere every day without any issues.

        The other reports I’ve seen suggest damage to the ozone layer and ionosphere due to rocket exhaust during the ascent.

        • over_clox@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          How much effect it does or doesn’t have, I’m not sure. But I do have a thought regarding the Earth’s magnetic field that I haven’t heard anyone else bring up, and this one is terrestrial, right here on the land.

          See, they say the Earth’s magnetic field is gradually getting weaker, and they’re not entirely sure why. So of course they’re doing lots of research into all sorts of theories as to why.

          Well have they considered that over the past century, humans have wrapped lots of the planet with degaussing coils? We call them power lines…

          • intrepid@lemmy.ca
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            7 months ago

            See, they say the Earth’s magnetic field is gradually getting weaker, and they’re not entirely sure why. So of course they’re doing lots of research into all sorts of theories as to why.

            Weakening of the geomagnetic field is due the pole reversal that happens periodically over time. It’s bad news, but not catastrophic.

            Well have they considered that over the past century, humans have wrapped lots of the planet with degaussing coils? We call them power lines…

            I seriously doubt that the whole of humanity’s electric infrastructure is powerful enough to interfere with the colossal magnetohydrodynamic dynamo at the core of the planet.

            • over_clox@lemmy.world
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              7 months ago

              I’m aware of the drifting of the poles and the ultimate eventual reversal of the poles, yeah. And granted that the degaussing effect is almost certainly negligible, it’s still gotta have a subtle effect regardless.