Andrew GallagherFeb 26

“we estimate that a million satellites could mean that a teragram (one billion kgs) of alumina accumulates in the upper atmosphere – enough, alongside launch emissions, to significantly alter atmospheric chemistry and heating in dramatic ways we do not yet understand.

There is no public mandate for a single company in one country to make changes on that scale to the planet’s atmosphere.”
https://theconversation.com/a-new-space-race-could-turn-our-atmosphere-into-a-crematorium-for-satellites-276366

A new space race could turn our atmosphere into a ‘crematorium for satellites’

Planned ‘megaconstellations’ of satellites could cause unforeseen harm to the ozone layer and climate systems. Global regulation is needed before it’s too late.

The Conversation
Show threadPaul Sutton (zleap)Mar 9

@andrewg

If a kilogram is 1000g surely a teragram is 1 billion grams, not 1 billion kilograms.

Show threadprovokingcats

@zleap @andrewg
tera = 10^12

so 1 teragram = 10^12 gram = 10^9 * 10^3 gram = 10^9 kilogram or as they say in the US 1 billion kilogram

maybe you´re confused about the way a billion is used in the US:
10^6 = million
10^9 = billion
10^12 = trillion
...

Mar 9 at 8:00amWeb
Show threadPaul Sutton (zleap)Mar 9

@provokingcats @andrewg

Ah yes, thanks, makes more sense now,

Show threadPaul Sutton (zleap)Mar 9

@provokingcats @andrewg

Suffice to say having that much aluminium in the atmosphere is not good,

Given the US/Israel have just blown up a oil refinery, the BBC is reporting how it will impact energy prices, I have seen very little with regard to the environmental impact of this, despite the huge clouds of toxic smoke bellowing from the scene.