The geomagnetic storm known as the Gannon Storm occurred from May 10-13, 2024. Classified as a G5 geomagnetic storm, it is in the highest recognized category of geomagnetic storm intensity. Space weather events of this magnitude have significant impacts on satellites, navigation systems, power grids, and communications. Particularly, geomagnetic storms are known to interfere with technologies that utilize the high frequency (HF) portion of the radio spectrum. The aim of this study is to examine the Gannon Storm's effects on HF propagation. Using the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation's network of HamSCI Personal Space Weather Stations (PSWSs), Doppler shift and signal-to-noise data gathered during the Gannon Storm is examined and compared against data collected on days with quiet geomagnetic conditions. PSWS receivers detected elevated Doppler shifts among HF signals traveling during the growth phase of the Gannon Storm and multi-hour blackouts throughout the storm's gradual recovery phase. Studying these effects can advance space physicists' knowledge of how extreme geomagnetic storms influence the ionosphere. This knowledge may be applied to showing operators of HF technologies how their use of those frequencies will be affected in the event of an extreme geomagnetic storm. Additionally, it can also inform how infrastructure that relies on these frequencies may be better equipped against similar extreme space weather events that will inevitably occur in the future.
BT - University of Scranton. Department of Physics and Engineering CY - Scranton, PA DA - 04/2026 LA - eng M3 - Academic thesis N2 -The geomagnetic storm known as the Gannon Storm occurred from May 10-13, 2024. Classified as a G5 geomagnetic storm, it is in the highest recognized category of geomagnetic storm intensity. Space weather events of this magnitude have significant impacts on satellites, navigation systems, power grids, and communications. Particularly, geomagnetic storms are known to interfere with technologies that utilize the high frequency (HF) portion of the radio spectrum. The aim of this study is to examine the Gannon Storm's effects on HF propagation. Using the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation's network of HamSCI Personal Space Weather Stations (PSWSs), Doppler shift and signal-to-noise data gathered during the Gannon Storm is examined and compared against data collected on days with quiet geomagnetic conditions. PSWS receivers detected elevated Doppler shifts among HF signals traveling during the growth phase of the Gannon Storm and multi-hour blackouts throughout the storm's gradual recovery phase. Studying these effects can advance space physicists' knowledge of how extreme geomagnetic storms influence the ionosphere. This knowledge may be applied to showing operators of HF technologies how their use of those frequencies will be affected in the event of an extreme geomagnetic storm. Additionally, it can also inform how infrastructure that relies on these frequencies may be better equipped against similar extreme space weather events that will inevitably occur in the future.
PB - University of Scranton PP - Scranton, PA PY - 2026 T2 - University of Scranton. Department of Physics and Engineering TI - HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station Observations of the Gannon Geomagnetic Storm UR - https://archives.scranton.edu/digital/collection/p15111coll1/id/1585/rec/2 VL - Bachelor of Science in Physics ER -