Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance Monitor

Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance Monitor

November 2025  :  Conrad Cardano

After bringing my setup to AstroAssembly, I wanted people to know more about this.  Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances are changes in the ionosphere from solar flares. Solar flares send out X-rays which change the ionosphere when they hit. Low frequency radio waves are most affected by changes in the ionosphere. There is a low frequency transmitter in Cutler, Maine. When the solar hits the earth, the signal from the transmitter increases and slowly drops off with time.

Recording these changes is actually easy. There is an organization, Society for Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA), which sell a kit for $140. The kit includes antenna wire, coax cable, preamp + filter, software, and a sound card. You need to provide a PC (any old PC/laptop will do) and build a frame for the antenna. The antenna is inside my house. It doesn't need to be outside.

At the end of the day, my PC sends the data to Stanford University, which has a big solar research center.

Screenshot of the software recording data. It stores it in a spreadsheet.

Screenshot of the software recording data.  It stores it in a spreadsheet.

Here is a day's worth of activity. Two flares were recorded.

Here is a day's worth of activity.  Two flares were recorded.