Uplift of microorganisms by electric fields above thunderstorms

Collections of microorganisms have been reported at altitudes above the tropopause where it is difficult to explain their presence. In fact, modern science can still not answer the question “How high can a microorganism be found?” This paper will describe our analysis of the ability of electric fields, related to the presence/formation of thunderstorms, to uplift either charged ice particles (which may contain microorganisms) or microorganisms, which inherently contain an electric charge, into the stratosphere. Here we show, via simulation, that strong electric fields found during thunderstorms could accelerate charged micron-scale particles rapidly up against the forces of drag and gravity. This uplift mechanism may therefore help explain the presence of microorganisms in the stratosphere at altitudes of 40 km and above.