Lightning storms trigger ‘killer electrons’ impacting space weather
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have found that lightning storms can release high-energy “killer electrons” from Earth’s inner radiation belt, posing potential hazards to satellites and astronauts. This connection between Earth’s weather and space weather was discovered by analyzing satellite data and linking electron bursts to lightning strikes. The study reveals that lightning-generated radio waves can knock electrons loose, causing them to bounce between hemispheres before falling into Earth’s atmosphere. This discovery may help improve predictions of space weather events.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, led by undergraduate Max Feinland, have uncovered a surprising link between Earth’s weather and space weather. Their study, published in *Nature Communications*, shows that lightning strikes can shake loose high-energy electrons, or “killer electrons,” from the inner radiation belt, a region surrounding Earth filled with charged particles. This phenomenon could pose risks to satellites and astronauts due to the potential radiation exposure.
The radiation belts, shaped by Earth’s magnetic field, consist of two regions: the inner belt, starting 600 miles above Earth, and the outer belt, roughly 12,000 miles away. These belts act as shields, trapping particles from the Sun. While scientists have known that high-energy electrons sometimes fall from the outer belt, this is the first evidence of similar electron precipitation from the inner belt, suggesting a deeper connection between Earth and space than previously thought.
Lightning strikes can send powerful radio waves into space, dislodging electrons in the belts. These electrons bounce between Earth’s hemispheres, eventually raining down into the atmosphere. The research team discovered this while reviewing satellite data, correlating bursts of electrons in space with lightning strikes on Earth.
This insight could help predict dangerous space weather events, improving safety for satellites and space missions.