Researchers at Kerala University have unearthed vital historical data that sheds new light on the 1859 Carrington Event, one of most intense geomagnetic storms.
Drawing from long-overlooked magnetic logs preserved at the historic Thiruvananthapuram Astronomical Observatory, the team has decoded hidden clues that could reshape the understanding of solar mega-storms and their future threat to modern civilisation.
The Carrington Event, triggered by a colossal solar flare, slammed Earth’s magnetosphere on September 2, 1859, unleashing global auroras and sparking unexplained surges in telegraph systems. While 19th-century technology endured the chaos, the scientists warn that a similar event today could cripple navigation systems, disrupt power grids, paralyse broadband networks and cellular communications, and trigger economic losses exceeding $1 trillion.
Led by R. Jayakrishnan, the Observatory’s Director, the university’s research team analysed magnetic records made in the days before and after the 1859 solar outburst. Their findings, now published in the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) publication, Advances in Space Research, reveal that Thiruvananthapuram’s logs, neglected for over a century, captured not only the main storm but also a precursor solar flare on August 28, 1859.
“Although documented historically, it (the earlier flare) was long overlooked due to its modest appearance. The new analysis reveals that the incident likely destabilised Earth’s magnetic environment, effectively heightening the damage inflicted by the subsequent flare just days later,” Prof. Jayakrishnan explains.
What distinguishes Thiruvananthapuram’s records is the precision of its measurements. Magnetic data had been captured at intervals of 2, 3, and 5 minutes, contrasting Mumbai’s Colaba Observatory which recorded data at 5-minute intervals only. These fine-grained analog observations are being digitised as part of an archival initiative supported by the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi.
Prof. Jayakrishnan adds that the study reaffirms Kerala’s historical role in advancing solar storm research. By applying modern modelling tools to legacy datasets, the researchers reconstructed how solar energy shaped Earth’s magnetic fields over a century and a half ago.
“We are not just studying the past, but also preparing for tomorrow,” the principal investigator said. “Mega-storms may be rare, but when they hit, they can upend modern life. Insights from Thiruvananthapuram are helping us anticipate such threats.”
Published – July 16, 2025 08:59 pm IST
