{"id":184965,"date":"2021-05-17T12:00:20","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T11:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=184965"},"modified":"2021-05-13T06:48:39","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T05:48:39","slug":"climate-emissions-shrinking-the-stratosphere-scientists-reveal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2021\/05\/climate-emissions-shrinking-the-stratosphere-scientists-reveal\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate Emissions Shrinking the Stratosphere, Scientists Reveal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Thinning indicates profound impact of humans and could affect satellites and GPS.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The thickness of the stratosphere has contracted by 400 metres since the 1980s, the researchers found. Photograph: Alamy<\/p><\/div>\n

12 May 2021 – <\/em>Humanity\u2019s enormous emissions of greenhouse gases are shrinking the stratosphere, a new study has revealed.<\/p>\n

The thickness of the atmospheric layer has contracted by 400 metres since the 1980s, the researchers found, and will thin by about another kilometre by 2080 without major cuts in emissions. The changes have the potential to affect satellite operations, the GPS navigation system and radio communications.<\/p>\n

The discovery is the latest to show the profound impact of humans on the planet. In April, scientists showed that the climate crisis had shifted the Earth\u2019s axis<\/a> as the massive melting of glaciers redistributes weight around the globe.<\/p>\n

The stratosphere extends from about 20km to 60km above the Earth\u2019s surface. Below is the troposphere, in which humans live, and here carbon dioxide heats and expands the air. This pushes up the lower boundary of the stratosphere. But, in addition, when CO2<\/sub> enters the stratosphere it actually cools the air, causing it to contract<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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