itemprop=description content=The event took place more than 14,000 years ago, scientists said.
Researchers have identified the biggest ever solar storm – when the sun emits huge bursts of energy – using ancient tree rings.
The academics argue it is important to understand solar storms to protect future communications and energy systems and help build resilience against their effects.For the study, an international team of researchers, including from the University of Leeds, measured radiocarbon levels in ancient trees on the eroded banks of the Drouzet River, near Gap, in the Southern French Alps.
They said the spike was most likely caused by a massive solar storm that would have ejected huge volumes of energetic particles into the Earth’s atmosphere. “Such super storms could permanently damage the transformers in our electricity grids, resulting in huge and widespread blackouts lasting months.
Prof Bard said: “Direct instrumental measurements of solar activity only began in the 17th century with the counting of sunspots.
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