Super Typhoon Sinlaku generated rare atmospheric gravity waves that reached the mesosphere during its rapid intensification in April 2026. Satellites captured the waves as visible rings in airglow above the storm. The observations provide new data on how powerful cyclones affect higher atmospheric layers.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku swept across the North Pacific in mid-April 2026 and delivered heavy rainfall to the Mariana Islands. The storm reached violent typhoon status, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, after intensifying from Category 2 to Category 5 strength in just 24 hours. A nighttime image from the VIIRS instrument on the NOAA-20 satellite on April 12 showed gravity waves radiating outward in nearly complete rings through mesospheric airglow. The AIRS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite detected similar ripples in the stratosphere on April 13 and April 14. Joan Alexander of NorthWest Research Associates noted the waves propagated in a cone-like shape. Weak stratospheric winds at the storm's latitude and partial moonlight conditions allowed the patterns to remain visible. Laura Holt, also at NorthWest Research Associates, said the waves could help forecasters detect rapid intensification over remote ocean areas. The findings also link to broader effects on stratospheric winds and ionospheric disturbances that influence satellite signals.
