Impacts of Mid‐Latitude Ionospheric Dynamics on RF Applications During the November 2025 Superstorm Event

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Authors: E. Yizengaw, Waqar Younas, Y. Nishimura, Christine E. Gabrielse, T. Beach, Anthea J. Coster, R. Pradipta, K. M. Groves
Cited by: 1
References: 36

Abstract

Abstract This study demonstrates the intriguing and complex interplay among auroral precipitation, enhanced TEC, density irregularities, and amplitude scintillations observed during the November 2025 superstorm. For the first time, we present observations of strong amplitude scintillation across continental United States (CONUS)—nearly from coast to coast—caused by small‐scale irregularities distributed over mid‐latitude regions, impacting GNSS applications for hours. While mid‐latitude phase scintillation associated with the storm‐time equatorward expansion of the auroral oval occurs frequently, strong mid‐latitude amplitude scintillation spanning a wide range of longitudes has never been reported before. During the storm main phase, an east–west elongated band of intense auroral brightness expanded equatorward and produced a horizontally extended strip of strong density gradients. These conditions favored the development of small‐scale irregularities and consequently triggered pronounced amplitude scintillations (S 4 > 0.5) and caused significant positioning errors exceeding 10 m—large enough to disrupt precision agriculture and autonomous transportation industries across CONUS.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics GNSS positioning and interference Precipitation Measurement and Analysis

Publication details

Journal / source
Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Volume
53
Issue
17
Publication date
29 August 2026
Language
EN