Kerala's 150-year-old magnetic data offers new clues to predict deadly solar storms
Magnetic records from the 19th century found at the Trivandrum Observatory, now functioning as Astronomical Observatory under the University of Kerala, have added fresh insight into one of Earth's most powerful solar storms - the 1859 Carrington Event.
The data revealed that a significant geomagnetic disturbance had hit the Earth just days before the deadly super storm of September 2, 1859. Although the previous disturbance on August 28, 1859 was observed and recorded by scientists the world over, it was largely regarded as minor and insignificant. However, researchers at Kerala University have now revealed through a study that this earlier disturbance 'primed' the Earth's magnetic field and set the stage for the dramatic impact of the Carrington Event just days later.
The Carrington Event of 1859 was the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history, It was caused by a massive coronal mass ejection from the sun, reaching the Earth in just 17.6 hours. The event caused disruptions to telegraph systems, including sparking and fires in some stations. The Trivandrum Observatory that recorded the event was set up in 1837 by Swathi Thirunal, the then ruler of erstwhile Travancore. The facility was handed over to Kerala University in 1975.
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New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Kerala's 150-year-old magnetic data offers new clues to predict deadly solar storms
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Over a century-and-a-half-old data from an observatory in Kerala may hold the key to the world to understand and predict deadly solar storms. Magnetic records from the 19th century found at the Trivandrum Observatory, now functioning as Astronomical Observatory under the University of Kerala, have added fresh insight into one of Earth's most powerful solar storms - the 1859 Carrington Event. The data revealed that a significant geomagnetic disturbance had hit the Earth just days before the deadly super storm of September 2, 1859. Although the previous disturbance on August 28, 1859 was observed and recorded by scientists the world over, it was largely regarded as minor and insignificant. However, researchers at Kerala University have now revealed through a study that this earlier disturbance 'primed' the Earth's magnetic field and set the stage for the dramatic impact of the Carrington Event just days later. The Carrington Event of 1859 was the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history, It was caused by a massive coronal mass ejection from the sun, reaching the Earth in just 17.6 hours. The event caused disruptions to telegraph systems, including sparking and fires in some stations. The Trivandrum Observatory that recorded the event was set up in 1837 by Swathi Thirunal, the then ruler of erstwhile Travancore. The facility was handed over to Kerala University in 1975.
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- The Hindu
Thiruvananthapuram Observatory logs shed new light on solar flare that rocked Earth in 1859
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.'
New Indian Express
30-06-2025
- New Indian Express
STEM camps inspire girls to aim new horizons
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