Summary

Solar flares and geomagnetic storms can significantly impact the ability to commicute on the medium and high frequency (300 kHz - 30 MHz bands). Solar flares cause radio blackouts due to collisional absorption from enhanced D-region ionization, especially on the lower frequencies. Geomagnetic storms can cause large-scale depletions of ionospheric densities that can reduce the maxium usable frequency (MUF) on a global scale. These impacts can be observed in large-scale amateur radio networks such as the Reverse Beacon Network, WSPRnet, and PSKReporter.

Publications

• Frissell, N. A., Miller, E. S., Kaeppler, S. R., Ceglia, F., Pascoe, D., Sinanis, N., Smith, P., Williams, R., and Shovkoplyas, A. (2014), Ionospheric Sounding Using Real-Time Amateur Radio Reporting Networks, Space Weather, 12, 651– 656, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014SW001132.
• Frissell, N. A., Vega, J. S., Markowitz, E., Gerrard, A. J., Engelke, W. D., Erickson, P. J., et al. (2019). High-frequency communications response to solar activity in September 2017 as observed by amateur radio networks. Space Weather, 17, 118– 132. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018SW002008.