Solar Superstorm Creates Rare Metal Clouds High Above Earth

On Mother’s Day 2024, a strong solar storm caused unusual changes in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Scientists found that thin patches of metal-rich clouds, called sporadic E layers, became very active. These clouds formed high above Earth, about 90 to 120 kilometers up, and moved from the polar regions toward the equator. This discovery reveals new information about a part of the atmosphere that is not well understood.

The solar storm happened on May 12 and sent charged particles from the Sun toward Earth. When these particles hit our planet, they disturbed the magnetic field and the ionosphere, a layer of charged gases that affects radio waves and satellite signals.

Researchers from Kyushu University in Japan studied the storm’s effects on the sporadic E layer. This layer is known for short-lived patches of ionized metal particles. Normally, these patches form and disappear quickly. During this storm, the patches became much stronger, especially after the storm’s main effects began to fade.

The team used data from 37 ground radars called ionosondes and measurements from the COSMIC-2 satellite network. These tools helped them map sporadic E layer activity worldwide during the storm.

They found that the metal-rich clouds were most active over Southeast Asia, Australia, the South Pacific, and the East Pacific. The clouds first appeared near Earth’s poles and slowly moved toward the equator. This pattern suggests a large atmospheric wave was created by the storm, pushing the clouds across great distances.

Sporadic E layers are thin, only 1 to 5 kilometers thick, but contain many ionized metal particles. These layers affect radio communications, especially signals in high-frequency and very-high-frequency bands. When sporadic E layers change suddenly, they can cause disruptions in radio and GPS signals.

Most solar storm studies focus on the ionosphere’s F layer, which is higher up, between 150 and 500 kilometers. The sporadic E layer, which is lower, has been less studied because it was thought to be less affected by storms. This new research shows the sporadic E layer can change dramatically during a strong solar storm.

The metal clouds formed after the storm’s main phase, during the recovery period. The movement of the clouds from the poles to lower latitudes matches changes in the neutral winds in this part of the atmosphere. These winds, disturbed by the storm, seem to carry the ionized patches over large distances.

Understanding how sporadic E layers behave during storms is important because of their impact on communication systems. The new findings could help scientists forecast when these metal clouds will form and how they might affect radio signals. This could allow better planning to avoid communication problems during solar storms.

The research team plans to study other solar storms to see if similar sporadic E activity happens. They hope their work will lead to better predictions of space weather effects on Earth.

Solar storms occur when the Sun releases bursts of charged particles into space. When these reach Earth, they interact with the magnetic field and the ionosphere, causing geomagnetic storms. These storms create bright auroras but can also affect satellites, power grids, and communication networks.

The Mother’s Day storm reminds us that even lesser-known layers of Earth’s atmosphere can show surprising reactions during solar activity.

NASA’s MAGE model helped simulate the Earth’s magnetic field during the storm in May 2024. The model showed how solar wind and magnetic field lines behaved, supporting the study’s findings.

Solar activity is expected to rise as the Sun approaches its next solar maximum, increasing the chance of storms and atmospheric disturbances.