It may surprise you to know that when the sun has an outburst, such as a solar Bengal or a giant rash of loaded gas called coronal mass expulsion (CME), threatens the health and safety of astronauts or satellites in space. These events also send invisible shock waves that can alter power networks and communications here on Earth. These shock waves produce special radio signals that can be detected from the soil with simple radio antennas.
The space mission of the Sun Radio Radio (Sunrise) interferometer experiment includes a variety of six cubesats the size of a toaster that will work together to study solar activity, observing low radiofrequency emissions so that scientists can better understand how the sun can generate intense weather storms that can be dangerous for earth technologies. The Sunrise Ground Radio Lab (GRL) project is an effort supported by NASA led by the University of Michigan. The project involves students in the secondary schools of the United States and involves them in the avant -garde meteorological research. Students receive free radio receptors to monitor SUN radio emissions and help us warn us about the storms they direct us.
Figure 1. Example of Type II Solar Radio broke out in the Sunrise Grl Dynamic Spectra, observed on April 23, 2024. The panel (a) and (b) show the explosion in two different antenna sites, and (c) shows a simultaneous explosion observed by a satellite instrument for comparison.
Why does the solar radio explode?
The solar radio or SBR explosions are natural “transmissions” of our closest star, often linked to violent activities. Different types of explosions tell us about different solar events. Type II SRB, in particular, are created when a CME shock wave crosses the outer atmosphere of the sun, accelerating particles at high speeds.
When monitoring these signals, scientists can estimate how fast a shock moves, how powerful it is and even how the magnetic field of the sun is behaving in the regions that we cannot see. This information is crucial to predict when disturbances can reach the earth and potentially cause interruptions in our technology here on Earth.
A network of antennas throughout the country
The Sunrise GRL program has distributed simple dual dipole radio antennas to 18 secondary schools throughout the country, from small cities in Michigan to schools in Florida and Puerto Rico. Students learn to build, calibrate and operate these antennas, then raise their observations to a growth database.
Figure 2. Secondary students at Croem High School in Boqueron, Puerto Rico, install a GRL antenna of dawn on their campus to listen to the SUN.
This approach helps to advance science, but also teaches students valuable skills in technology, teamwork and scientific method. Many students are inspired to follow careers in science and engineering by participating in our program.
Space climate of the real world in action
In April 2024, a powerful CME sent shock waves running through the sun and towards the earth. Sunrise Grl’s antennas in Michigan detected the resulting type II radio burst in several schools. It turned out that these land observations coincided with a satellite in space collecting similar signals. When comparing data from different locations and frequencies, the equipment was able to estimate the speed and power of the CME shock. The event was linked to a moderate geomagnetic storm and the students’ collected data helped confirm official warnings.
Science and impact
The preliminary results of the Sunrise GRL show that the school radio antennas captured the start of the solar storms up to 48 hours before the effects reached the earth. The parameters measured by the students, including the speed with which the radio explosion of the drift frequencies and strength of the radio signals were used to model the speed and strength of the solar shocks and the magnetic field of the sun. For more information, visit our study entitled “Sunrise Ground Radio Lab: Monitoring Radio Raves with a wide range of antennas in secondary schools throughout the country” published in Journal of Earth and Space Science https://agupubs.onlinelibry.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024ea004114
All data is selected in a public catalog that scientists and students around the world can access and use for future research or prediction of the space climate.
Conclusions
The Sunrise GRL program is combining the traditional learning and practical science of NASA, giving high school students the opportunity to contribute significantly to our understanding of the sun. With events such as CME 2024 and the current solar activity, the project continues to show that with a network of simple, but expansive radio antennas, and some curiosity, students can help monitor the space climate and help protect our planet.
If your school is interested in getting involved, visit the Sunrise Grl website.
Additional information
For more information about the materials of the mission and education of the Sunrise space, visit the Sunrise Grl project page.
References
Akhavan – Tafti, M., Soni, SL, Higgins, C., Fung, S., Lepri, S., Lux, J., Lazio, J. and Romero – Wolf, A., 2025. Radio Laboratory of the Earth of Dawn: Monitoring of the Solar Radio burst with a variety of expansive antennas in the Secondary Schools Nationwide. Earth and Space Science, 12(6), p.e2024ea004114. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024ea004114
This Pepita is based on the work sponsored by NASA and is done at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Michigan. For more details or to participate, contact us through Sunrise Grl contact page.
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