What is global warming doing to satellites?

According to a recent study, climate change caused by carbon dioxide emissions is reducing

the Earth's ability to self-purify the upper layers of the atmosphere. Because of this, objects in close orbit, including satellites, experience less drag and stay there longer.

Discuss

At first glance, this may seem good.news for satellite manufacturers who want functioning satellites to stay in orbit as long as possible. But there's a caveat: this inability to self-cleanse — the result of excess CO2 eating away at the density of the upper atmosphere — will cause dangerous space debris to stay in orbit longer.

Space debris is becoming a major problem for satellite operators due to the risk of collisions.