Experiencing a Mother’s Day Wonder: How a Powerful Geomagnetic Storm Sparked Radio-Disrupting Bubbles in Earth’s Atmosphere

Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan have recently shed light on a significant geomagnetic storm that took place on Mother’s Day. This storm was linked to a larger solar storm that hit Earth.

Their focus was on the E layer of the ionosphere, situated about 56 to 75 miles (90 to 120 kilometers) above our planet. Huixin Liu, the study leader, noted that this layer hasn’t received much attention during solar storms because it seemed unaffected.

"But we wanted to check if a storm as impactful as the Mother’s Day geomagnetic storm had an effect," Liu said, and what they found was intriguing.

During the storm, the E layer experienced a notable enhancement. Thin patches of high ionization density appeared, known as sporadic E layers, or sporadic Es. To gather their findings, the team relied on a combination of satellite data from the COSMIC-2 satellite network and information from 37 ground-based radars.

This collaboration helped them create a global map showing where these sporadic Es formed and how they evolved over time. Liu emphasized the importance of this data: "It was crucial for both detecting sporadic Es and tracking their formation."

The researchers discovered that these sporadic Es initially formed at higher latitudes and gradually moved toward the equator. Liu explained, "This pattern suggests they are likely caused by disturbed neutral winds in the E region."

Understanding this phenomenon is essential because sporadic Es can disrupt high-frequency (HF) and very high-frequency (VHF) radio communication, which is vital for navigation and other technologies. The team hopes that by gaining more insight into the E layer’s activity during geomagnetic storms, they can find ways to mitigate these disruptions.

A recent report indicated that geomagnetic storms are becoming more frequent due to increased solar activity. Between 2017 and 2021, such storms have risen by 40% according to a study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This emphasizes the need for ongoing research in this area.

The findings from this study were published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters last month. For those interested in deeper insights and further study, you can check out the full paper here.

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