[MFDXA] SOLAR STORM DISTORTS ATOMIC-TIME RADIO SIGNALS
JACK
73 & Gud DX
K4WSB /C6A VP2MSB
#1 DXCC 340/357
SOLAR STORM DISTORTS ATOMIC-TIME RADIO SIGNALS: To ham radio operators, no sound is more soothing than the metronome broadcast of atomic time signals from WWV. It has rarely changed in more than 100 years. On Nov. 12th, however, it changed. Mike Backus (KB9ZDD) of Davis, Illinois, recorded strong distortions in the broadcast during a severe geomagnetic storm. Click on the image to listen:
Auroras over Mike Backus's backyard on Nov. 12, 2025. WWV recordings: #1, #2, #3.
"After standing outside staring in awe at the auroras, I decided to go back inside the house and see what the storm was doing to the bands," he says. "I tuned in to WWV from Fort Collins, Colorado, at 10 MHz. The warbling and heterodyning were impressive."
In addition to the transmission from Fort Collins, Backus also picked up an overlapping signal from the WWH station in Hawaii. "I generally struggle to receive Hawaii from my location," he says. "Radio propagation conditions were just haywire."
During strong geomagnetic storms, Earth's ionosphere becomes turbulent and full of bubbles. Rapid changes in electron density cause shortwave radio signals to flutter, creating warbling tones, wavering pitch, and "underwater" sounds. The same fluctuations can affect GPS receivers at much higher radio frequencies, causing GPS-guided farm equipment to act crazy.
Twelve hours later, the storm subsided, and Backus made another recording. The metronome was back to normal.
73,
Tony N2MFT, President
Mid Florida DX Association W4FDX
http://www.W4FDX.com/
DXCC/WAS/WAC/VUCC/IARU Card Checker and VE Coordinator
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