At the end of September 2024, Hollen Hellen struck the Florida coast, the United States, causing devastating rains and heavy winds. However, according to NASA scientists, the influence of this hurricane spread far beyond the Earth's surface. Observations conducted by the International Space Station (ISS) found atmospheric waves at an altitude of about 90 km above the planet's surface, which indicates the relationship between weather phenomena on Earth and events in the upper atmosphere.
The mesosphere, located at a height of 50-90 km above the ground, is one of the least studied layers of atmosphere. The data obtained shows that events in the lower atmosphere, including hurricanes, can even affect the sparse air at these high altitudes. During Hollen Hollen, a special AWE device installed on the ISS, recorded the signs of an atmospheric wave that arose under the influence of this natural phenomenon. This discovery emphasizes that strong hurricanes can cause significant changes in the upper atmosphere.
The AWE (Atmospheric Waves Experiment) device was designed to monitor the "atmospheric glow" - low light emitted by gases in the upper atmosphere. It was installed on the ISS in 2023, and since then it monitors the events on the Earth's surface affect the mesosphere and other high layers of the atmosphere. Through the observation of the AWE device, scientists receive valuable information on how hurricanes create atmospheric waves. These waves change the density of air at high altitudes, which, in turn, can affect the functioning of satellites and other spacecraft.
Atmospheric waves caused by hurricanes are important for communication satellites, meteorological satellites and even for navigation signals. Changes in the mesosphere can lead to instability of satellite orbits due to changes in air density. NASA research has confirmed that the impact of hurricanes spreads much higher than it was thought before. This discovery can help improve the forecasts not only for ordinary weather, but also for conditions closer to space, providing stable work of satellites and communication systems.
Hurricane "Helen" has become another proof that Earth and cosmos are related to complex interactions that are just beginning to discover science.
