Climate Change Could Make Satellites More Vulnerable to Solar Storms

A new scientific study warns that satellites — including those critical for GPS navigation and communications — may face greater risks from solar-triggered geomagnetic storms in the coming decades due to the effects of climate change on Earth’s upper atmosphere.

As carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue to rise, the upper layers of air are expected to become less dense. Normally, geomagnetic storms have the opposite effect, increasing atmospheric density. The researchers found that when these two trends interact, the resulting rapid changes in density could significantly disrupt satellite operations.

The findings, published in Geophysical Research Letters, come at a time when society’s reliance on satellite networks is growing for purposes ranging from internet connectivity and navigation to national defense.

Why Solar Storms Are a Threat
Geomagnetic storms occur when charged particles from the Sun collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere. While their most famous effect is the creation of auroras — vibrant green, pink, and purple displays in the sky — they can also interfere with satellite functions. The storms can increase atmospheric density in high-altitude layers, making it harder for satellites to maintain orbit. Increased drag can cause satellites to lose speed and altitude, reducing their lifespan.

How Climate Change Amplifies the Risk
The new modeling suggests that geomagnetic storms of the same intensity later this century will cause greater density spikes than they do today because the background atmosphere will be thinner overall. The study used supercomputer simulations to model the entire atmosphere and predict how conditions will evolve over time.