B Can a thunderstorm affect a satellite in low earth orbit?

AI Thread Summary
Thunderstorms generate strong static electric charges and magnetic fields, but their impact on satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) is minimal. Satellites, traveling at high speeds and positioned about 90 miles above thunderstorms, only pass over them for a brief period. The ionosphere, which lies between 100 km and 300 km, effectively shields satellites from electromagnetic interactions with thunderstorms. Additionally, the solar wind poses a greater threat to LEO satellites than thunderstorms do. Overall, while thunderstorms can produce detectable magnetic forces, they do not significantly affect satellite operations.
Wo Wala Moiz
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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?
 
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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.
 
Wo Wala Moiz said:
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.
 
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