03-21-2019, 05:30 AM
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-47536271
Recent evidence shows that there was a huge blast of radiation from the Sun that hit our Earth more than 2000 years ago. Ice cores from Greenland expressed signs that solar proton particles hit the Earth in around 660 BC, this being referred to as a solar proton event. Modern day when these particles collide with the Earth they can knock out electronics in satellites. It, also, could bring health risks for astronauts and passengers on commercial aircraft that fly at high altitudes and close to the poles. At the time of the event, there would not have been any considerable signs of it occurring other than the chance of geomagnetic storms that may have triggered aurorae at lower latitudes than usual. This evidence was found by seeing radioactive isotopes, such and beryllium-10 and chlorine-36, in the ice (which are signs of cosmic origin). Researchers have identified two other major events from the past which left evidence in the ice cores of Greenland and tree rings (showing signs of carbon-14). However, the event in 660 BC does not have clear carbon-14 signatures in tree ring data. I believe that it is essential to continue looking into event such as these. It is important to know how frequent these large occurrences happen. I hope that in doing this we could plan for big solar storms in the future. Also, in knowing the frequency of such events, we could be able to better protect those such as our astronauts and passengers in commercial aircrafts.
Recent evidence shows that there was a huge blast of radiation from the Sun that hit our Earth more than 2000 years ago. Ice cores from Greenland expressed signs that solar proton particles hit the Earth in around 660 BC, this being referred to as a solar proton event. Modern day when these particles collide with the Earth they can knock out electronics in satellites. It, also, could bring health risks for astronauts and passengers on commercial aircraft that fly at high altitudes and close to the poles. At the time of the event, there would not have been any considerable signs of it occurring other than the chance of geomagnetic storms that may have triggered aurorae at lower latitudes than usual. This evidence was found by seeing radioactive isotopes, such and beryllium-10 and chlorine-36, in the ice (which are signs of cosmic origin). Researchers have identified two other major events from the past which left evidence in the ice cores of Greenland and tree rings (showing signs of carbon-14). However, the event in 660 BC does not have clear carbon-14 signatures in tree ring data. I believe that it is essential to continue looking into event such as these. It is important to know how frequent these large occurrences happen. I hope that in doing this we could plan for big solar storms in the future. Also, in knowing the frequency of such events, we could be able to better protect those such as our astronauts and passengers in commercial aircrafts.