Global Warming: Even More Issues

Yes, once again, I am going back to global warming and another list of problems it may cause as a result of another scientifci study. It may seem excessive, but the first step in solving these problems is exposing them. So, it seems that carbon dioxide builup in the upper atmosphere may have negative effects on both GPS signals from satellites and falling debris from spacecraft. First of all, I'll describe the GPS issue. GPS satellites send signals back to earth that allow anything from a cell phone to a jet to have their exact location pinpointed. Carbon dioxide builup is causing the upper atmosphere to cool and contract, pulling closer to earth. This less dense atmosphere will be a psitive thing for GPS satellites flying in low orbit; they will be able to maneuvere more easily. The problem, however, is that the ionosphere resides in this part of the atmosphere. The ionosphere helps reflect radio waves back to earth. Changes in the ionosphere have been known to disrupt the way radio waves travel through the atmosphere. Scientists are unsure whether or not these cooling temperatures in the upper atmosphere will disrupt the radio waves significantly, but unforeseen consequences are always possible.

Another situation in this part of the atmosphere involves debris. Spacecraft often jettisone rockets and other debris back towards earth through the atmosphere. The dense upper atmosphere usually burns the debris up before it can reach the earth. With this atmosphere cooling and becoming less dense from carbon dioxide, though, it is possible that we masy have to rethink how we dispose of this debris, because it may not burn up.