Scientists Use Tree Rings to Predict the Next Big Solar Storm

Researchers publishing in Communications Earth & Environment used carbon-14 levels in annual tree rings to reconstruct past solar activity. They identified four grand solar minima and four potential Miyake events — extreme solar storms that could disrupt technology.

• Carbon-14 in tree rings reflects cosmic ray flux and solar activity
• Four grand solar minima periods were identified
• Four potential Miyake events — extreme solar storms — were found
• Data could help estimate the frequency of future dangerous solar storms