Why Satellites Black Out Over Equator...

[Rockhopper]

Fascinating!

Atmospheric thunderstorms

warm scientists discovered there is a direct link between those anomalies and ionospheric thunderstorms, around 300 - 600 km (190 - 370 miles) above Earth.

Although atmospheric thunderstorms are well known, this is a first direct link between these storms and loss of connection to GPS.

Atmospheric thunderstorms occur when the number of electrons in the ionosphere undergoes large and rapid changes. This tends to happen close to Earth’s magnetic equator and typically just for a couple of hours between sunset and midnight.

As its name suggests, the ionosphere is where atoms are broken up by sunlight, which leads to free electrons. A thunderstorm scatters these free electrons, creating small bubbles with little or no ionised material. These bubbles disturb the GPS signals so that the Swarm GPS receivers can lose track.

From Here.

Tim.

[Solace]

Cool share Tim!