Hurricane Helene triggers gravity waves detected by NASA's space experiment

Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida's Gulf Coast on September 26, 2024, caused over 100 fatalities and significant destruction. It also generated gravity waves in the upper atmosphere, detected by NASA's Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) on the International Space Station. The AWE instrument, launched in November 2023, captured images of these waves, which spread westward from Florida. The observations show how hurricanes can create ripple-like patterns in the atmosphere, similar to rings in water. These findings enhance understanding of the connection between weather events on Earth and conditions in space. The data will aid NASA's research on how terrestrial storms impact satellite operations and communication technologies.