Carrington Event
Geomagnetic storm in 1859 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Carrington Event was the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history, peaking from 1–2 September 1859 during solar cycle 10. It created strong auroral displays that were reported globally[1] and caused sparking and even fires in multiple telegraph stations. The geomagnetic storm was most likely the result of a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun colliding with Earth's magnetosphere.[2]
Type | Geomagnetic storm |
---|---|
Formed | 1 September 1859 (1859-09-01) |
Dissipated | 2 September 1859 (1859-09-02) |
Damage | Severe damage to telegraph stations |
Areas affected | Worldwide |
Part of Solar cycle 10 |
The geomagnetic storm was associated with a very bright solar flare on 1 September 1859. It was observed and recorded independently by British astronomers Richard Christopher Carrington and Richard Hodgson—the first records of a solar flare.
A geomagnetic storm of this magnitude occurring today would cause widespread electrical disruptions, blackouts, and damage due to extended outages of the electrical power grid.[3][4][5]