Ancient Tree Rings Reveal Earth's Largest-Ever Solar Storm More Catastrophic Than Carrington Event

Ancient tree rings indicate that the Earth had its most powerful solar storm thousands of years ago, which was 10 times more catastrophic than the Carrington Event.

It is estimated that this enormously intense solar storm was at least ten times as catastrophic as the Carrington Event of 1859, which wreaked havoc on the primitive telegraph network of the time.

The true amount of the sun's power and the possible risk it poses to us if a storm of this size occurs today are revealed by a radiocarbon spike found in ancient tree rings in the French Alps, according to a new study.

The scientists discovered an odd radiocarbon peak in the tree rings of sub-fossilized trees that date to about 14,300 years ago.

Sudden Spike of Radiocarbon

Tim Heaton, a professor of applied statistics at the University of Leeds, discussed radiocarbon production in Earth's upper atmosphere. He said that cosmic rays trigger this process, usually mitigated by the sun and Earth's magnetic field.

However, in 2012, Fusa Miyake detected an unusual radiocarbon spike in a Japanese tree from 774 AD. Initially attributed to a supernova, further research revealed it resulted from a massive solar storm. Such storms release energetic solar particles into Earth's atmosphere, causing sudden radiocarbon surges. This event is the largest of its kind, known as a Miyake event.

Earth's Largest-Ever Solar Storm

The radiocarbon spike in tree rings aligned with beryllium levels in Greenland ice cores, confirming it as a result of a massive solar storm. Professor Heaton verified the 14,300-year-old spike by comparing it with beryllium-10 levels, both produced by similar upper atmosphere processes. This dual confirmation indicated the spike's authenticity and its solar origin, signifying an unprecedentedly massive solar storm.

Solar storms, like the Carrington Event, result from solar flares, involving powerful X-ray ejections from the sun. Associate Professor Daniel Brown explained that flares occur due to twisted magnetic field lines, storing energy until they snap and release electromagnetic radiation and material from the sun's active regions.

The Carrington Event and Damages

The Carrington Event considered the most potent solar storm in modern history, wreaked havoc in 1859, causing significant infrastructure damage and an extraordinary night sky aurora. Professor Alan Woodward, a space weather expert at the University of Surrey, noted telegraph lines sparking due to induced voltages during the Carrington Event.

A similar solar storm today could result in trillions of dollars in damages. The tree ring-measured storm surpasses the Carrington Event, belonging to the extreme solar storm category known as Miyake Events. This 14,300-year-old discovery may be the most powerful, estimated to be at least 10 times larger than Carrington.

This discovery underscores the sun's immense power and the potential for future powerful solar storms to impact Earth. Professor Heaton warns that such storms today could have catastrophic consequences, given people's heavy reliance on technology. The economic toll could reach billions or even trillions of dollars, though the exact impact remains uncertain as modern society has not directly faced such events.

Heaton emphasizes the need for further research to understand the potential damage, including disruptions to electricity grids, transformer destruction, prolonged nationwide blackouts, satellite damage, and risks to astronauts due to radiation exposure from energetic solar particles.

Heaton emphasized the unknown resilience of current technology to massive solar storms and the need to shield it effectively. This discovery offers a unique opportunity to study past solar storms and gauge their frequency.

The mysteries surrounding Miyake storms, including their causes, frequency, and predictability, underscore the urgent need for more research to enhance solar behavior modeling and people's understanding of risks. While rare, with only 9 Miyake Events in the last 15,000 years, comprehending their behavior remains critical for potential mitigation.