Ancient [7176 BC] ice reveals powerful solar storm during Sun's "quiet" phase

newatlas.com ^ | January 27, 2022 | Michael Irving

[BenLurkin]

In ice cores from both ends of the planet, scientists have discovered evidence of an extreme solar storm that struck Earth around 9,200 years ago, and strangely, it seemed to have occurred during a period when the Sun should have been rather quiet.

The Sun regularly throws off solar flares and bursts of plasma called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and if they collide with Earth they can affect our planet’s magnetosphere. Most of the time the only result is stronger aurorae, but powerful CMEs can damage satellites, disrupt communications, and even shut down electrical transmission lines.

Radioactive isotopes like beryllium-10 and chlorine-36 are produced by the particles thrown off by the Sun, and can reach Earth’s surface in higher amounts during CMEs. Finding spikes in the concentrations of these isotopes can be the smoking gun for past geomagnetic storms.

And sure enough, the researchers detected a giant peak of beryllium-10 and chlorine-36 in the ice cores, at a depth corresponding to the year 7176 BCE, indicating a huge geomagnetic storm must have taken place then. Intriguingly, the same signature was spotted at the same point in four different ice cores, three from Greenland and one from Antarctica.

This find itself isn’t particularly surprising, but what did catch the team off-guard is the timing of the storm. The Sun goes through an 11-year cycle of activity, and it’s long been thought that geomagnetic storms are more likely to occur during the very active periods of this cycle. However, 7176 BCE corresponds to a time that the Sun should have been close to its minimum activity.

[BenLurkin]

ping

[SteveH]

p

[jcon40]

Great post and a new addictive website.

Thx.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Solar cycles which occur about every 11 years can vary slightly in length, so did they just divide 9,200 by 11? I don’t think anyone was recording sunspot activity back then to know if we were at solar minimum or maximum.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Yes, extrapolating back like the for the relatively short period of a solar cycle sounds really amateurish...IF that is what they did.

[Paul R.]

I wonder how this storm compared in strength (power?) to the Carrington Event?

[Sequoyah101]

They can also see with the same precision, to the year, the warm periods we have already had in the age of ancient SUVs.

Erf has gone through many cycles of temperature and we did not have a thing to do with any of them just like now.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Well maybe they used some other techniques that weren’t specified here. In any case, the sun can and has made occasional burbs, but still remains a more stable star than most in the universe.

[SunkenCiv]

CME, Coronal Mass Ejection, and SIDA keywords, sorted, duplicates out, and edited to remove Chicago Mercantile Exchange topics (I think I found all of them):

• Sun continues firing significant solar flares, Earth's GPS signals disruption and power grid... [11/04/2021]
• GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR 30-31 OCT. [10/30/2021]
• MAJOR X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE [10/28/2021]
• As if things weren't bad enough! A huge solar storm is due to hit Earth at 5pm TODAY that could cause havoc for power grids - with possible Northern Lights displays in New York and the north of England [10/11/2021]
• Geomagnetic storm warning as solar flare expected to directly hit Earth today [10/11/2021]
• Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued for Earth for Sunday [09/25/2021]
• Rare Solar Superstorm Could Prompt 'Internet Apocalypse' Lasting Several Months: Study [09/24/2021]
• GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH [05/17/2021]
• EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD JUST STRUGGLED WITH A WEAK CME: SIGN OF THE TIMES [05/14/2021]
• A strong geomagnetic storm hit earth early Wednesday morning [05/12/2021]
• Sunspot twice as wide as Earth could fire eruptions straight at us Its a big one – Daily Express [05/08/2021]
• The sun may offer key to predicting El Niño, groundbreaking study finds [05/08/2021]
• Earth under Geomagnetic Storm Watch on Sunday [04/24/2021]
• Mars-directed coronal mass ejection erupts from the sun [04/23/2021]
• In 774 AD, the Sun blasted Earth with the biggest storm in 10,000 years [01/08/2021]
• Northern Lights potentially visible Wednesday into Thursday [Lower 48] [12/09/2020]
• MAJOR SOLAR FLARE AND CME [11/30/2020]
• Far-Off Supernovas Caused Climate Change on Earth, According to Tree Rings ... How is that even possible? [11/16/2020]
• Did a solar flare sink the Titanic? Study suggests space weather may have been responsible for tragedy [09/16/2020]
• Carrington Event still provides warning of Sun's potential 161 years later [08/28/2020]
• Mars-sized 'Light-bridge' on Surface of Sun Appears to Signal Break-up of Vast Sunspot [08/10/2020]
• Massive sunspot is turning towards Earth this can result in major solar flares that can effect electrical systems [08/07/2020]
• Sun unleashes biggest flare since 2017. Is our star waking up? [05/31/2020]
• Understanding Solar Maximum and Minimum [02/08/2020]
• NASA's Parker Solar Probe spotted 'stealth' outburst on the sun [02/04/2020]
• Deep solar minimum on the verge of an historic milestone [12/13/2019]
• Professor Valentina Zharkova's 'Expanded' Analysis still Confirms Super Grand Solar Minimum (2020-2055) [12/13/2019]
• Ancient Babylonian 'Omen' Has Helped Scientists Verify Timing of an Epic Solar Storm [10/21/2019]
• Solving the sun's super-heating mystery with Parker Solar Probe [06/06/2019]
• The sun has 'reached solar minimum' and its surface is ominously calm [06/05/2019]
• NASA warns spectacular 'beauty and the beast' aurora could wreak havoc on Earth [04/23/2019]
• NASA's Parker Solar Probe Makes 2nd Daring Flyby of the Sun [04/05/2019]
• Ice cores reveal huge solar storm struck Earth around 660 BC [03/12/2019]
• Solar flare '10 billion times more powerful' than Earth's Sun blasted out of Orion's sword [02/17/2019]
• Church of Sol: The Solar Cycle's Potential Impact on Weather and Climate [01/20/2019]
• Powerful Solar Storm Likely Detonated Sea Mines During Vietnam War [11/11/2018]
• U.S. Urged to Rapidly Prepare for Electromagnetic Pulse Attack [09/24/2018]
• Coronal hole faces Earth [09/05/2018]
• VIDEO: Solar Killshot Aimed At Mars, Venus, Mercury | Level 3 Proton Storm [09/11/2017]
• Solar Eclipse Warning "Apocalyptic Solar Flare / Hurricane Irma / Harvey / North Korea / Yellowstone [09/06/2017]
• TECH BLACKOUT: Huge solar storm which could WIPE OUT modern technology expected by 2020 [11/29/2016]
• Solar storm of August 28 to September 2, 1859 [08/30/2016]
• Is the Sun DISINTEGRATING? NASA spots monster hole open up on our star [05/26/2016]
• Coronal Mass Ejection - An Issue That Will Kill AGW [04/28/2016]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Auroras and the Magnetosphere of Jupiter [04/06/2016]
• Holes in the sun threatening to throw birds and GPS off course [04/02/2016]
• Deadly stars: Our sun could also be superflare star [03/28/2016]
• What is a superflare? Researchers explain 'devastating consequences' of an eruption from the Sun [03/24/2016]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A Solar Prominence Eruption from SDO [03/05/2016]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Sun Storm: A Coronal Mass Ejection [01/10/2016]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Sky Lights in the New Year [01/01/2016]
• Over A Thousand Years Ago, The Sun Exploded -- And Changed Life On Earth Forever [11/16/2015]
• Looming Threat of Extreme Solar Storms Prompts White House Response [11/12/2015]
• What Would Happen if a Massive Solar Storm Hit the Earth? [08/21/2015]
• UK gov't: Earth will only have 12-hour warning to deal with massive Sun explosion [07/30/2015]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Aurora Australis [07/04/2015]
• Aurora Borealis Lighting Up Night Sky All Week Due To Severe Solar Storm [06/23/2015]
• Strike 3! A third CME raises Watch to G3 level for 22 June [06/21/2015]
• Space 'buoy' may help protect Earth's power grid from sun's fury [06/13/2015]
• Sun emits huge solar flare, burst of plasma [05/06/2015]
• Watch an Enormous "Plasma Snake" Erupt from the Sun [04/30/2015]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Across the Sun [04/30/2015]
• The 2010 flash crash now has a criminal suspect [04/21/2015]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A Flag Shaped Aurora over Sweden [03/30/2015]
• NASA's MMS Spacecraft Set for March Blastoff to study Earth's Magnetic Reconnection Events [03/01/2015]
• Active Sun Unleashes Massive Solar Flare [12/21/2014]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Solar Flare from a Sharper Sun [11/23/2014]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Sunspots and Solar Eclipse [10/26/2014]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- AR 2192: Giant on the Sun [10/26/2014]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Sunspot Group AR 2192 Crackles [10/26/2014]
• Beastly Sunspot Amazes, Heightens Eclipse Excitement [10/22/2014]
• Awesome Photo Shows Monster Sunspot Aiming Our Way [10/20/2014]
• NASA Solar Forecasting Takes A Hit As Sun-Gazing Spacecraft Stops Phoning Home [10/14/2014]
• Will Aurora Strike Tonight? Here's What to Expect [09/12/2014]
• Storm caused by solar flares will lightly singe Earth by Friday [09/11/2014]
• Scientists: 'Extreme' Solar Storm Heading to Earth [09/11/2014]
• Solar Flare Geomagnetic Strength Increased by Twice: NASA [09/11/2014]
• 'Giant magnetic explosion on sun' racing to Earth [09/11/2014]
• How a solar storm two years ago nearly caused a catastrophe on Earth [07/24/2014]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A Solar Filament Erupts [07/21/2014]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Spotty Sunrise over Brisbane [07/10/2014]
• Solar Flares Disrupt Communications on Earth, Could Send Shockwave on Friday the 13th [06/11/2014]
• Gigantic Eruption off the Sun May 9th [06/01/2014]
• A First for NASA's IRIS: Observing a Gigantic Eruption of Solar Material (Amazing Video) [05/30/2014]
• Scientists say destructive solar blasts narrowly missed Earth in 2012 [03/20/2014]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Sun and Prominence [03/04/2014]
• X-FLARE! AR1967 returned to the Earthside of the sun on Feb. 25th and promptly erupted [02/26/2014]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Sunspot Loops in Ultraviolet [01/26/2014]
• Sun Goes Wild: NOAA Issues Alert: Earth Directed X-Class Flare Is On Its Way; Chance Of More [01/08/2014]
• Congresswoman: "100% Chance of a Severe Geo-Magnetic Event Capable of Crippling Our Electric Grid" [09/03/2013]
• Sun Unleashes Another Solar Storm Aimed at Earth [08/23/2013]
• Sun Fires Solar Storm Directly at Earth [but only Aurora activity is expected] [08/21/2013]
• The Sun has a maximum and no one notices [08/03/2013]
• About that almost 'Carrington Event' two weeks ago ( Solar Eruption)....Eronous? [08/03/2013]
• SPACE WEATHER FACT CHECK: [08/02/2013]
• Carrington Class: "The World Escaped an EMP Catastrophe" [08/01/2013]
• Massive solar flare narrowly misses Earth, EMP disaster barely avoided [07/31/2013]
• This solar eruption video will straight up melt your face it's so awesome [07/19/2013]
• Monster radiation burst from Sun [05/14/2013]
• NASA Pauses Mars Missions To Avoid Interference [04/04/2013]
• Sun in the Way Will Affect Mars Missions in April [03/27/2013]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- CME, Comet and Planet Earth [03/15/2013]
• Earth-directed coronal mass ejection from the sun [03/15/2013]
• Solar proton event seen in paleo records (Carbon 14 in Tree Rings) [03/15/2013]
• Did An 8th Century Gamma Ray Burst Irradiate Earth? [01/21/2013]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A Solar Ballet [01/15/2013]
• Researcher points to Sun as likely source of eighth-century 'Charlemagne event' [12/12/2012]
• Sky 'Crucifix' in Ancient Text May Be Mystery-Solving Supernova [07/01/2012]
• ScienceCasts: Hidden Magnetic Portals Around Earth [06/29/2012]
• ScienceCasts: The Surprising Power of a Solar Storm [06/29/2012]
• Mysterious radiation burst recorded in tree rings [06/04/2012]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Planet Aurora Borealis [01/28/2012]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- January Aurora Over Norway [01/24/2012]
• Enormous solar outburst could dazzle your weekend [Alaska, Seattle, Des Moines, Chicago, Boston] [01/21/2012]
• This is a true story, it just hasn't happened yet. [12/21/2011]
• Mysterious planet-sized object spotted near mercury (Mercury) [12/07/2011]
• Space Weather Forecasters Get Serious [10/21/2011]
• Plasma, Solar Outbursts, and the End of the Last Ice Age [07/15/2011]
• Earth dodges geomagnetic storm: scientist (but we're not out of the 'line of fire' yet) [02/17/2011]
• SpaceWeather: (Solar) FARSIDE ACTIVITY CONTINUES [01/14/2011]
• The EMP Threat [11/23/2010]
• Space Weather: EARTH-DIRECTED SOLAR ERUPTION [11/12/2010]
• Solar Shield--Protecting the North American Power Grid [11/08/2010]
• NASA says large CME on Sun headed for Earth: Expected Arrival August 3rd. [08/02/2010]
• Sun eruption may have spawned zombie satellite [07/14/2010]
• OMG! Huge Prominence (CME to hit Earth's magnetic field around April 15th) [04/14/2010]
• INCOMING CME: (Cloud arrives on April 11th or 12th) [04/10/2010]
• How to save the Earth via the World Wide Web [03/08/2010]
• VIDEO: SPECTACULAR ERUPTION [on far side of Sun] [02/28/2010]
• Sun's Plasma Balls Could Wipe Out Human Civilization.... [10/14/2009]
• Sun's storms set to intensify [07/07/2009]
• Pick of The Week [coronal mass ejection (CME) from far side of the Sun] [12/17/2008]
• 'Lost' Swedish aid millions are the tip of the iceberg [01/12/2007]
• MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WARNING (Northern California to North Carolina) [12/13/2006]
• What's Up in Space -- 8 Dec 2006 [12/07/2006]
• AURORA ALERT! [09/14/2005]
• A Coronal Mass Ejection is Heading Toward Earth After an X-Class Solar Explosion [07/31/2005]
• X-FLARE (Explosion from Sun which might hit Earth?) [12/31/2004]
• A Poker with Bill Gates (Account 990N : Sequel) [06/29/2004]
• Here Come's The Sun [11/02/2003]
• IMPACT: Coronal Mass Ejection Has HIT.... [10/28/2003]
• LATEST CORONAL MASS EJECTION TIME OF IMPACT PREDICTION (most powerful since 1989) [10/28/2003]
• Middle Latitude Auroral Activity Watch [10/27/2003]
• Did a gamma-ray burst devastate life on Earth? [09/24/2003]
• Large solar eruption: possible electrical effects July 16-17 [07/16/2002]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day 5-16-02 [05/16/2002]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks!

---

join or quit view topics view or post blog bookmark post new topic subscribe

---

• Wild New Paper Suggests Earth's Tectonic Activity Has an Unseen Source

[SunkenCiv]

Nifty, a two-list ping topic, and a good GGG Digest ping.

The other GGG topics added since the last digest ping:

• Climate change threatening buried UK treasures [01/27/2022]
• FBI Confirms Zodiac Killer's Infamous 340 Cipher Has Been Decoded, And His Message Finally Revealed [01/26/2022]
• The Wreck of the Schooner "WYOMING", the Largest Wooden Ship in History [01/24/2022]
• 1800-year-old Roman Goddess Venus Statue in Zadar Discovered at Future Hotel Site [01/23/2022]
• In Photos: Middle Kingdom mining mission premises unearthed in South Sinai [01/23/2022]
• Part donkey, part wild ass, the kunga is the oldest known hybrid bred by humans: The mysterious equines were bred in Syria 4,500 years ago, likely for use in warfare [01/23/2022]
• Ancient Chinese tombs hold remains of warriors possibly buried alive [01/23/2022]
• Nazi Museum Swamped With Third Reich 'Attic Finds' [01/23/2022]
• Zodiac '340 Cipher' Cracked by Code Experts 51 Years After it Was Sent to the S.F. Chronicle [12/11/2020]

[SunkenCiv]

Oh yeah, and the keyword Carrington Event is also in there.

[Adder]

Remnants of sun drifts...