Science for the Public: Contemporary Science Issues & Innovations
April 29, 2025 at 1PM WGBH Forum Network webinar (link will be here)

Daniel J. Cziczo, Ph.D., Professor, Dept of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences. Purdue University

Today, thousands of satellites orbit Earth.At the end of their missions they drop from space and burn up in Earth’s upper atmosphere.The resulting ash deposits thousands of tons of aerosols. Certain aerosols contain metal oxides and pollutants that can impact both the ozone layer and Earth’s thermal balance (heat and cooling factors).

Atmospheric scientist Dan Cziczo, an expert on aerosols and clouds, analyzes these particles that accumulate in Earth’s stratosphere, to determine their relationship to both ozone-depletion and climate change. He explains the concern about these unique space debris chemicals and their potential effect on the ozone layer and the cloud dynamics associated with climate. The studies on space debris represent a developing area of atmospheric science and is of great significance, given the continuing increase in the number of satellites.

Some Background (w/Dan Cziczo)

Satellites Are Burning Up in the Upper Atmosphere – And We Still Don’t Know What Impact This Will Have on Earth’s Climate

Thousands of Satellites Are Due to Burn Up in the Atmosphere Every Year – Damaging the Ozone Layer and Changing the Climate

The World’s Next Big Environmental Problem Could Come from Space