Recent research has unveiled evidence of a colossal solar storm, known as a Miyake event, that occurred between 664 and 663 BCE. This discovery, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, highlights the potential catastrophic impact such an event could have on today's technologically advanced society.
Solar storms, or geomagnetic storms, are caused by increased solar activity, releasing significant amounts of radiation and charged particles towards Earth. These storms can disrupt satellite operations, terrestrial energy systems, and communication networks. The greater the intensity of the solar storm, the higher the risk posed to modern technology.
Scientists utilized annual rings from ancient trees, which act as time capsules, to identify evidence of this solar storm. Over the last 14,500 years, only eight Miyake events have been recorded, making them exceedingly rare. The last known event prior to this discovery occurred between 774 and 775 CE.
According to the researchers, if a similar solar storm were to strike Earth today, it could lead to widespread communication failures, possibly disabling the internet and disrupting energy systems globally.
Miyake events, first identified by Japanese physicist Fusa Miyake in 2012, are characterized by a sharp increase in radioactive carbon isotopes, particularly carbon-14, found in tree rings. Carbon-14 is produced in the atmosphere when solar radiation interacts with nitrogen and eventually forms carbon dioxide through reactions with oxygen.
The study involved analyzing annual rings from ancient wood samples collected from dead trees buried along riverbanks and logs excavated during archaeological digs. Scientists burned the cellulose, the main component of wood, to assess the radiocarbon content.
Increased levels of radiocarbon found in tree rings were compared with elevated levels of other isotopes, such as beryllium-10, which is extracted from ice cores. Both carbon-14 and beryllium-10 are formed in the atmosphere due to solar radiation and charged particles.
This comparison confirmed that a significant solar storm impacted Earth during the specified period. The findings add to the existing knowledge of solar activity events, enhancing our understanding of historical solar phenomena.