Solar Superstorm Unleashes Rare Metal Clouds in Earth’s Upper Atmosphere

Solar Superstorm Unleashes Rare Metal Clouds in Earth’s Upper Atmosphere

During a powerful solar storm on Mother’s Day, scientists discovered that a mysterious ionospheric phenomenon, sporadic E layers, became unusually active, especially during the storm’s recovery. These thin, metal-rich patches appeared to ripple from the poles toward the equator, shedding new light on a region of Earth’s atmosphere that has long been overlooked. Geomagnetic Storm [...]

Scientists Discover Strange Atmospheric Waves After Massive Solar Storm

A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters has revealed how an intense solar superstorm in May 2024 triggered the sudden emergence of rare metal-rich clouds in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Known as sporadic E layers, these thin, highly concentrated patches of ionized particles formed in response to geomagnetic disturbances — a phenomenon previously thought to be largely immune to solar events. The finding offers new insight into one o…