The Carrington Effect--Solar Activity that Startled the World

 

Watching the strange weather around the globe this year reminded me of a book in my personal library. The Sun Kings by Stuart Clark. It was gifted to me years ago because of my love of history and astronomy. I revisited its pages and wanted to share what happened in September 1854. This weather phenomena became the turning point in the study of solar astronomy.

It started with British Astronomer Richard Carrington (May 26, 1826- November 27, 1875). He'd already charted several thousand stars and published his findings when he became fascinated with the sun as well. He chose to observe the rotation of the sun. The camera was still in its infancy, so he relied on his specialized telescope that reflected the sun's image on paper that he could trace. This was after creating a mathematical formula that gave an accurate measurement from the center to the edges of the sun. Then he spent years daily observing the movement of sunspots, discovering the sun spun faster at its equator than near the poles. He recorded the movement of sunspots toward the sun's equator as sun cycles. William Hodgkins, a fellow-British Astronomer confirmed Carrington's research, as well as other astronomers worldwide, who'd spent years observing the sun.

Richard Carrington

His research might have remained buried in scientific journals if not for the Solar Storm of 1859 that exploded on the sun and sent debris hurtling toward Earth. Newspapers all over the world reported on what was later called Carrington's Event.

The day after the event, both Carrington's and Hodgkin's work were published side by side to confirm their separate research drew the same conclusions. The results were printed in papers globally.

Here's what citizens around the world experienced on September 1^st and 2^nd, 1859 during the Carrington Event

The cargo vessel The Southern Cross was 84 days from Boston off the coast of Chile when a maniacal storm took their full attention. Beyond the normal lightning and thunder, the skies shone red. The Southern Lights, which is rarely seen beyond Antarctica, glowed red. Halos outlined the rigging, giving the ship an eerie glow. This was akin to what mariner's called Saint Elmo's fire, a blue and white halo effect that came with severe lightning storms. In this case, the red color not only filled the sky, but it also gave the water the appearance of blood. Red debris floated atop the water. During a calm in the storm, fiery lights seemed to gather on the horizon. At other times, spirals of lightning streaked across the sky, then exploded like fireworks.

At the same time, Carrington and other solar astronomers had observed a huge, complex sunspot. Tip to tip it was ten times the size of earth. As Carrington's chronometer recorded the various sunspot activities, a brilliant streak of white light streaked across his screen. Eighteen hours later, the results of the solar storm reached Earth.

While the sailors were engulfed in the strange storm off the coast of Chile, both the Southern and Northern Lights covered the earth. In Concepcion, Chile, almost a thousand miles closer to the equator, the lights appeared at near dawn described as a cloud of fire. The brightness was the same strength as in a fluorescent light tube. Santiago ,about 20 minutes south, observed a display of red, blue, and yellow colors for about three hours.

As the Southen Lights headed toward the Northern Lights and stretched to join them creating a dome of red and green alternating lights over Newport, Massachusetts. Observers said although it was dark they could read by the aurora light. The same claim was made by others along the east coast. Accounts of the lights moving and glowing, changing colors over the course of the evening were recorded by scientists at MIT.

In Bermuda, people awoke assuming it was morning and started their days. A man in Cuba was sure people would think it was the end of the world. Records show sightings of the light display in Australia as well as throughout Europe.

Other reports over the two-day event mentioned the auroras interfered with the telegraph. The telegraph in 1859 would be equivalent to the internet today in dispersing information and communication. The aurora also produced some negative scenarios. Everything from a mild disruption causing the incoming bell to ring in multiple locations simultaneously rather than where the message was intended.

 At its worst, it was deadly and dangerous. In Philadelphia a telegrapher was stunned by the shock he received from touching the equipment. Those stations that used the Bain system, a chemical that marked the message on paper, ignited into flames, causing smoke to permeate the office. In Bergen, Norway, the electrical current became so strong, the operators risked electrocution to unplug the apparatus. Even with the system disconnected messages could be sent using the electrically charged air from the solar storm.

It would be decades before scientists could truly explain what had happened on the sun and how the electromagnetic field disrupted the auroras. The study of the solar astronomy led the way to understanding of more about the stars.

 Here's a video link if you're interested in knowing more.

Now that Earth relies so heavily on technology in all areas of our life, can you imagine how much more devastating a solar storm of this magnitude would be today?

Have you ever heard of Carrington's Event?

What other odd weather phenomena can you recall that turned the tide of history?

 Here is another link to a video that explains it in simple terms.

Cindy Ervin Huff, is a multi-published award-winning author in Historical and Contemporary Romance. She’s a 2018 Selah Finalist. Cindy has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. When she isn’t writing, she feeds her reading addiction and enjoys her retirement with her husband of 50 plus years, Charles. Their favorite retirement pastime is visiting historical sites and enjoying live theater. Visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com.