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

Year: 2026

Type: article

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.

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/2026gl124645

Authors: E. Yizengaw, W. Younas, Y. Nishimura, C. Gabrielse, T. Beach, A. J. Coster, R. Pradipta, K. M. Groves

Institutions: The Aerospace Corporation, Boston University, Boston College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,190

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Headquarters, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

OpenAlex ID: W7204647488