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How powerful can a solar storm be? Many have pondered this question out of curiosity and necessity. Understanding the potential intensity of solar storms is crucial for preparing for large events. However, it remains a complicated task due to the limited sample size. The most intense storms don’t occur very often.
Scientists have found a new clue.
The mother of all storms. A recent study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters has analyzed the remnants of the largest solar storm ever recorded. The storm was around 500 times more powerful than the most intense solar storm documented since the beginning of the space age. Experts believe it occurred around 14,300 years ago.
While there were previous indications of this event, the recent study can help prepare for future storms. It may also improve radiocarbon dating techniques.
14,300 years ago. Interestingly, the detection of a spike in radiocarbon, specifically carbon-14, has facilitated the discovery of the powerful solar storm. The radiocarbon spike occurred around 12,350 B.C., toward the end of the Last Glacial Period.
This discovery confirms that the storm isn’t only the most powerful on record. It’s also the only known solar storm that occurred outside the Holocene Epoch, the current geological epoch (excluding the Anthropocene debate).
Different storms. The storm in question is a solar particle storm. Several types of solar storms exist. Unique effects, including radio blackouts, solar radiation storms, and geomagnetic storms, characterize each of these events.
Solar radiation storms occur when large quantities of charged particles from the Sun reach the Earth’s magnetic field. This magnetic field deflects the particles toward the poles, resulting in a greater impact at high latitudes.
Carbon-14. Researchers used a new chemistry-climate model called SOCOL:14C-Ex for their analysis. This model is specifically designed to reconstruct solar particle storms under climatic conditions typical of past glaciations. Using this model, the team found that the solar storm was 18% stronger than the event that occurred in 775 B.C., which was the largest solar storm known until this recent discovery.
“Compared to the largest event of the modern satellite era–the 2005 particle storm–the ancient 12,350 B.C. event was over 500 times more intense, according to our estimates,” co-author Kseniia Golubenko explained in a press release.
More than just a record. The study enables the scientific community to establish a new framework for the “worst-case scenario,” according to Golubenko. Understanding solar storms may provide scientists with essential tools to prevent these kinds of events.
Additionally, the recent study can assist researchers in archeology. The analysis was based on carbon-14, an isotope that’s crucial for dating a variety of organic materials, from textiles to ships. By understanding spikes in this isotope caused by the impact of charged particles from the Sun, experts can more accurately date objects created in the past.
Image | NASA/SDO
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