Nature Communications (Aug 2018)

Solar superstorm of AD 774 recorded subannually by Arctic tree rings

  • J. Uusitalo,
  • L. Arppe,
  • T. Hackman,
  • S. Helama,
  • G. Kovaltsov,
  • K. Mielikäinen,
  • H. Mäkinen,
  • P. Nöjd,
  • V. Palonen,
  • I. Usoskin,
  • M. Oinonen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05883-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Tree rings retain information of sudden variations of ancient radiocarbon (14C) content, however the origin and exact timing of these events often remain uncertain. Here, the authors analyze a set of Arctic tree rings and link a rapid increase in 14C to a solar event that occurred during the spring of AD 774.