When Hurricane Helene struck Florida on September 26, 2024, its destruction was visible on the ground. What surprised scientists, however, was what happened far above Earth, nearly 88 kilometres into the sky. NASA detected unusual atmospheric activity high in the mesosphere, revealing that the storm’s influence extended much farther than previously understood. 

NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE), installed outside the International Space Station in November 2023, captured images of gravity waves rippling through the mesosphere. These waves appeared as concentric, ripple-like patterns and were detected through airglow, a faint light naturally emitted by atmospheric gases at high altitudes.

The mesosphere lies between 31 and 55 miles above Earth’s surface and is generally isolated from surface-level weather. However, Helene’s extreme strength disturbed this layer, proving that powerful storms can transmit energy far higher than expected.

Gravity Waves Formed By Hurricane

As Helene made landfall, AWE recorded circular gravity waves spreading outward from Florida’s northwest coast. The patterns resembled ripples created when a stone is dropped into water and extended hundreds of kilometres westward, well beyond the hurricane’s main impact zone.

NASA scientists explained that such gravity waves form when intense weather systems push air upward, causing oscillations that travel vertically through the atmosphere.

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Scientists Explain Why Discovery Matters

Michael Taylor, a NASA scientist involved in the mission, said the observation offers a new perspective on how storms affect the planet. The finding demonstrates that surface weather can significantly influence atmospheric layers once thought to be largely disconnected.

“This adds a new dimension to how we understand hurricanes and their reach,” Taylor noted.

Why ISS Was Perfect Vantage Point

The ISS orbits about 400 kilometres above Earth, making it an ideal platform to observe phenomena invisible to ground-based instruments. AWE was specifically designed to study atmospheric waves on a global scale, and Helene provided a real-world validation of its capabilities. 

AWE principal investigator Ludger Scherliess of Utah State University confirmed Helene as the source of the waves. “Like rings of water spreading from a drop in a pond, circular waves from Helene are seen billowing westward,” he said in a NASA statement.

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