The Solar Storm Radio Telescope ("SSRT") network is a worldwide collaboration between amateur radio telescope operators monitoring Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances. The basic principle is to use a radio antenna to monitor signals from Very Low Frequency ("VLF") radio transmitters located hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away. Simply put, these signals travel via the ionosphere, and so any kind of ionospheric disturbance caused by solar flares or other events will show up at the receiver. Receiver signals are plotted on day charts that show a distinctive diurnal pattern under normal conditions. Solar storms such as flares or coronal mass ejections can drive major disruptions in the ionosphere and in the pattern seen on the charts.

This website provides access to real time and archive data from the participating radio telescopes. A series of interactive maps can be navigated to survey the network. A brief key is given below.

These symbols depict the VLF transmitters (government operated, their main purpose is usually trans-ocean submarine communications). Mouseover the symbols to identify the transmitters and the frequencies on which they transmit.

These symbols depict the SSRT radio telescopes. Mouseover to identify each station and check which transmitters it monitors (yellow lines). Click on a station to bring up real-time data in thumbnail format. Click on the chart thumbnails, or double click on the symbol itself to navigate to a full scale chart with archive access.

An e-book is available with further information about the Solar Storm Radio Telescope and how to build your own radio telescope and join the network if you are interested. The SSRT is not hard to build and the parts should cost no more than about US$200.