ИСТИНА

The total mass of space debris in the outer magnetosphere (about and above the geostationary orbit) is comparable with the total mass of the natural magnetospheric particles in this region of space. Degradation of macroscopic fragments is caused by space radiation and it can lead to growth of heavy ion concentration in the outer magnetosphere. These ions are influenced by the same processes plasma processes as the background population of magnetospheric ions and they can be lost in the ionospheres during magnetic storm intervals. Physical mechanisms for space weather sources of contamination of the ionosphere by heavy ions (probably, with a fraction of active isotopes) from high apogee space debris and possible levels under various space weather parameters are discussed.