Polluting space [CO/sub 2/ effects on the thermosphere]

This article outlines the effects increased carbon dioxide emissions are having in space. While most researcher accept that the build up of greenhouse gasses in the troposphere causes global heating, it is less well known that rising CO/sub 2/ levels in the thermosphere causes cooling. The principle mechanism for the cooling is the excitation of CO/sub 2/ molecules, due to collisions with atomic oxygen. Such excitation leads to IR emission which cools the thermosphere and impacts its density structure. The article examines the effects this can have on space vehicles.