High School Can a thunderstorm affect a satellite in low earth orbit?

[Wo Wala Moiz]

Clouds build up strong static electric charges. Magnetism is an emergent phenomenon of the length contraction of electric fields. Due to the strength of EM interaction, even very slow movement can result in strong magnetic fields, such as that caused by electrons moving at drift speed through the wires of electromagnets.

So, wouldn't satellites be subject to easily detectable magnetic forces from clouds due to their high speed around the earth, if they were to pass over a thunderstorm?

 

[DaveC426913]

Well ... sure.

But "detect" and "affect" are very different animals.

Also note: a satellite, travelling at 5 miles per second, will only be over a typical thunderstorm for about 6 seconds. And it's about 90 miles above it.

 

[FactChecker]

Good question. Satellite electronics need to be shielded from space radiation. It is more than just the effect of thunderstorms. See Multilayer radiation shield for satellite electronic components protection

 

[Baluncore]

So, wouldn't satellites be subject to easily detectable magnetic forces from clouds due to their high speed around the earth, if they were to pass over a thunderstorm?

Thunderstorms disturb the atmosphere up to about 15 km.

LEO satellites orbit well above that, at an altitude above 400 km.

The ionosphere is a conductive layer of the atmosphere, that lies between about 100 km and 300 km above the surface. The ionosphere will significantly attenuate and shield the electromagnetic interactions between thunderstorms and satellites.

The solar wind interacts with the ionosphere, and causes more problems for LEO satellites than do thunderstorms.