Why in the News?

Scientists have discovered that a massive solar storm hit Earth around 12,350 BC, making it the most powerful solar event ever detected.

What are Solar Particle Storms?

About: A solar storm is a disturbance caused by solar flares or coronal mass ejections that release charged particles into space.
Solar Particle Storm: It is a type of solar storm where high-energy particles travel toward Earth, producing cosmogenic isotopes like radiocarbon.
Detection: These isotope spikes are recorded in tree rings and are known as Miyake events, which act as cosmic timestamps.
Impact: Though rare, solar particle storms can severely affect satellites, communication systems, and power grids.
Historical Events: Major solar particle storms were identified in AD 994, 663 BC, 5259 BC, and 7176 BC.
Carrington Event (1859): This was a major solar storm, but not a particle storm—it resulted from a different solar mechanism.

Methodology: A solar storm from 12,350 BC was discovered using tree-ring data from the French Alps.
Event Strength: This storm was over 500 times stronger than the 2005 solar storm, the largest in the satellite era.
What are its implications?
- Significance: This is the first known extreme solar event before the Holocene, predating the last 12,000 years of stable climate.
- Modern Relevance: The discovery highlights the risks of future extreme solar activity on Satellite infrastructure and Space Application.
- Significance: Miyake events improve the precision of archaeological dating, helping better understand ancient human history.

[UPSC 2022] If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth?

1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.

2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.

3. Power grids could be damaged.

4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.

5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.

6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.

7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7*