About 2,600 years ago, the Assyrians saw a red glow in the night sky, which we now know were bright polar lights caused by a powerful solar storm. This event, as the researchers found, occurred in 664 BC. They published their findings in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.
A team led by Irina Panyushkina from the University of Arizona examined wood rings in ancient logs, analyzing the concentration of radioactive carbon-14. Significantly higher levels of carbon-14 were found in rings formed in 664 B.C., a sign of a solar superstorm.
Carbon-14 is formed in the atmosphere by cosmic radiation, subsequently absorbed by trees and remains in their rings. During solar storms, this process is greatly enhanced, leaving a noticeable mark in the woody tissue.
The superstorm in 664 B.C. refers to the so-called Miyake events, solar storms that have left a significant mark on Earth’s natural archives over the past 14,500 years. The events of 7176, 5410, 5259 B.C., and 774 and 993 A.D. also belong to this group.
Studies show that these events affect not only carbon-14 levels, but also the chemical composition of the atmosphere, changing the Earth system as a whole.
Research Methods
Scientists used dendrochronology – the study of annual tree rings – to analyze climate change and date events. The research was conducted on ancient trees from the Ural Mountains. Annual tree rings record environmental conditions: each ring corresponds to a particular year, and their size and composition provide information about climatic events.
Researchers compare wood samples to standard chronological timelines to establish accurate dates. For example, analysis of wood and ice core samples from Greenland and Antarctica confirmed elevated levels of carbon-14, beryllium-10 and chlorine-36, which are indicative of solar storms.
Consequences and prospects
If a superstorm on the scale of 664 B.C. were to occur today, it would affect energy and communication systems. Although modern technology is already more resistant to such phenomena.
Irina Panyushkina notes that despite significant progress, it is still impossible to predict the time of the next event of this scale. However, the research is contributing to a better understanding of carbon-14 burst signals and their impact on the Earth system.
Provided by livescience.com
