Personal Space Weather Station Observations of the Gannon Geomagnetic Storm

The geomagnetic storm known as the Gannon Storm took place from 10-13 May 2024. Classified as a G5 geomagnetic storm, the Gannon Storm was the most extreme event of its kind to occur in the past two decades. Space weather events of this magnitude have significant impacts on orbiting satellites, navigation systems, power grids, and communications. Particularly, geomagnetic storms are known to disrupt technologies that utilize the high frequency (HF) portion of the radio spectrum. The aim of this study is to understand the Gannon Storm’s effects on HF propagation. Using the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation’s network of personal space weather stations (PSWSs), Doppler shift data gathered during the Gannon Storm is examined and compared against data collected on days with quieter geomagnetic conditions. PSWS receivers detected elevated Doppler shifts among traveling HF signals and more interruptions to the signals than is typical. Studying the Gannon Storm’s effects on HF propagation can inform how technologies that rely on these frequencies may be better equipped against similar extreme space weather events in the future.