# NASA Satellites Observe Atmospheric Gravity Waves From Hurricane Simon

> NASA satellites observed atmospheric gravity waves radiating from Hurricane Simon on October 11, 2026, providing new data on how hurricanes interact with the upper atmosphere.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-17T13:17:33.045370Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/nasa-satellites-observe-atmospheric-gravity-waves-from-hurricane-simon-82c61834

On October 11, 2026, NASA satellites detected atmospheric gravity waves emanating from Hurricane Simon, a Category 4 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast [1][5][7]. This observation contributes to understanding how powerful hurricanes can affect Earth's upper atmosphere, influencing phenomena that impact critical communication and navigation systems [1][3][4].

## Why it Matters

Atmospheric gravity waves can alter the density of plasma in the upper atmosphere, potentially disrupting radio signals [3]. Such disruptions can reduce the accuracy and reliability of satellite-based systems essential for GPS navigation, aviation operations, telecommunications networks, and financial transactions [3][4]. These observations offer insights into improving the resilience of these vital services [3][4].

## What the Records Show

Hurricane Simon originated from a tropical depression south of Acapulco, Mexico, on October 7, 2026 [9]. By October 11, it had intensified into a Category 4 hurricane, with sustained winds reaching 250 kilometers (155 miles) per hour [8][9]. At its peak, the storm was positioned approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and about 195 kilometers (120 miles) south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico [9].

In the early morning hours of October 11, 2026, the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) instrument aboard the NOAA-21 satellite captured images revealing atmospheric gravity waves radiating from Hurricane Simon [5][6]. These waves appeared as ripple-like patterns in the mesospheric airglow, a faint, natural light produced by gases high in the atmosphere [5][7][8]. Strong convection, driven by latent heat release near the hurricane's eyewall, creates tall cumulonimbus clouds with updrafts that send disturbances into the stratosphere and mesosphere, where they become visible through airglow [5][7][8].

Despite remaining offshore, Hurricane Simon delivered substantial rainfall and flooding to coastal areas, including Manzanillo, and increased the risk of mudslides [5][12]. Later on October 11, the VIIRS instrument on the Suomi NPP satellite observed Simon's eye about 50 kilometers (30 miles) offshore between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta, at which point sustained winds had decreased to approximately 210 kilometers (130 miles) per hour [12]. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued ongoing advisories for Hurricane Simon throughout its trajectory [9][10][12].

## Timeline

*   **October 7, 2026:** Hurricane Simon forms as a tropical depression south of Acapulco, Mexico [9].
*   **October 11, 2026:** Simon reaches Category 4 strength with sustained winds of 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph) [9]. The NOAA-21 satellite's VIIRS instrument captures images of atmospheric gravity waves [5][6]. The Suomi NPP satellite also captures an image of the hurricane's eye offshore [12].
*   **October 14-15, 2026:** NASA Earth Observatory publishes articles detailing the satellite observations of Hurricane Simon's atmospheric gravity waves [12][13].

## What Changed and For Whom

The direct observation of atmospheric gravity waves from Hurricane Simon by VIIRS instruments provides new data points for scientific models of how extreme weather events impact the upper atmosphere [1][3]. This enhances the understanding of space weather phenomena and their potential to disrupt satellite-dependent services globally [3][4]. Earlier in 2026, NASA's Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) mission, which concluded its on-orbit phase on May 21, 2026, also studied atmospheric gravity waves from extreme weather, including a 2024 tornado outbreak and Hurricane Helene [2][3][4].

## What NASA Has Said Publicly

Joe Westlake, director of NASA's Heliophysics Division, stated that the AWE mission demonstrated the atmosphere is "a living, breathing ocean in the sky" and enabled observations of how phenomena like thunderstorms and hurricanes can have upper-atmospheric effects [2]. NASA Earth Observatory credited Michala Garrison for images related to the Hurricane Simon observations, which utilized VIIRS data from both NASA and NOAA satellites [12][13].

## What We Could Not Confirm

It was not possible to confirm the specific extent of radio signal disruptions, if any, that occurred as a direct result of the atmospheric gravity waves generated by Hurricane Simon, or the exact impact of this particular event on plasma density in the upper atmosphere. We also could not confirm further public statements specifically from NASA about the Simon observation beyond the Earth Observatory articles.

## Evidence cited
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