UA Researchers: ‘Will a Solar Catastrophe Wipe Out Life on Earth?’

When the Northern Lights dipped south last year, excited skywatchers across Arizona caught a glimpse of something most of us have only dreamed of seeing: the Aurora Borealis.

The northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, are natural lights in the sky that appear when particles from the sun hit the Earth's atmosphere. These lights create colorful patterns that seem to dance across the heavens.

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We usually only see them in places far to the north, like Alaska, the North Pole, or Norway. Not being one for cold weather, I figured I would only be able to admire the aurorae in photographs; I never thought I would get to see them with my own eyes.

READ: She Was Shocked to See THIS From Her Arizona Backyard

Recently, people in Arizona got a rare treat and could see the northern lights from their backyards. A strong solar storm caused the display.

This storm sent a lot of particles toward Earth, which made the lights visible much farther south than usual. While the sight was beautiful and interesting, they might be a signal of danger, quite literally, on the horizon.

The Fallout: Catastrophic Solar Storms

Seeing pretty lights in the sky is one thing, but what could happen if those innocuous solar storms ramp up their energy?

Typically, intense solar storms send out large clouds of electrified gas and dust that disrupt the Earth's magnetic field.

A catastrophic solar storm is called a Carrington Event. While this type of storm is rare, it has happened on Earth in recent times.

In September 1859, during Solar Cycle 10 (we're currently in Solar Cycle 25), our planet experienced the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history.

During that period, our highest level of technical communication was through the telegraph. The Carrington event of 1859 sparked fires in telegraph stations, shutting down the main avenue of telecommunications for the time.

Can you imagine the scope of damage a solar storm of that magnitude would do today? The earth would experience radio blackouts, power outages, cell tower disruption, and loss of global communication. You can imagine what would come next.

University of Arizona: Predicting Catastrophic Solar Storms

University of Arizona researchers are working on ways to use trees to predict catastrophic solar storms like the Carrington event. It sounds a little like sci-fi, but it's happening, and researchers are hopeful they're onto a solution.

Scientists are using dendrochronology - the study of tree rings - to try to predict the future based on the past.

Since trees can live for hundreds or even thousands of years, they could share valuable information about historical weather and atmospheric patterns. Tree rings hold a ton of historical data, and the University of Arizona is unlocking their secrets.

By analyzing these rings, researchers can detect spikes of the radioactive isotope carbon-14 in the trunks. The isotope forms when cosmic rays hit the Earth's atmosphere.

Scientists discovered a massive solar storm that occurred in 664 B.C. The bombardment was so intense that if it happened today, it would knock out power grids and satellites and cause untold chaos worldwide.

They hope to pinpoint ancient events and better understand the sun's behavior, which they believe could help them predict future solar storms. The data could help humans prepare for a cosmic, life-changing catastrophe on Earth.

Sources: University of Arizona News | Arizona International | AZ Central | Wikipedia | Nasa