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Description
The geomagnetic storm of May 2024 was the most intense event observed since the major storm of November 2003, reaching a minimum Disturbance Storm Time (Dst) index of –412 nT. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the ionospheric response, with particular attention to variations in the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2). The analysis draws on validated measurements from 34 globally distributed ionosondes covering 10–14 May 2024, a period that spans both the storm’s main and recovery phases, thus offering a detailed temporal and spatial characterization of the disturbances. Alongside the observational results, the study compares the findings with predictions from the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model. Discrepancies between observations and model outputs are examined in the context of storm-time dynamics, underscoring the limitations of IRI under extreme geomagnetic conditions and suggesting possible directions for enhancing ionospheric modeling during such space weather events.
