Solar activity is constantly taking place on the nearest star to Earth.For example, strong magnetic storms
The authors of the new work explain that the particlessolar energy (SEP), entering the atmosphere, causes a chain reaction that leads to the formation of a carbon-14 atom. This atom accumulates in wood, and fluctuations in its level indicate the activity of SEP exposure in a particular year.
Therefore, the researchers analyzed wood collected from three regions:
- bristle pine in California,
- Scottish pine in Finland,
- European larch in Switzerland.
Mass spectrometry samples were sent to determine the carbon-14 content.
As a result, the authors found out that 5411 BC.e. and 5410 BC. e. a very powerful storm probably occurred: atmospheric carbon-14 increased by 0.6% in the Northern Hemisphere and persisted for several years. There were also strong storms in 660 BC. B.C., 774-775 A.D. e. and 992-993 A.D. e.
The authors continue to study historical solar activity to expand our knowledge of it and predict the behavior of the Sun in the future.
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