Carrington Event: September 2, 1859

On September 2, 1859, a massive solar storm, now known as the Carrington Event, reached its peak, causing significant disruptions to telegraph systems across Europe and North America. Named after the British astronomer Richard Carrington who observed the solar flare that initiated the event, this geomagnetic storm remains the most severe recorded solar storm in history.

Context and Observation

The solar event began on September 1, 1859, when Richard Carrington and another astronomer, Richard Hodgson, independently observed an unusual and intense solar flare. This flare was caused by a large coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun, which traveled towards Earth at a remarkable speed and struck the planet’s magnetic field less than 18 hours later.

Effects and Impact

Telegraph Systems Disruption

On September 2, the geomagnetic storm reached Earth, inducing powerful electric currents in telegraph lines, which led to widespread disruptions:

• Telegraph systems across Europe and North America experienced failures, with some systems unable to operate while others continued to work without their batteries.
• Operators reported receiving electric shocks, and telegraph paper caught fire in some instances.
• Some telegraph services in the United States were able to operate purely on the geomagnetic energy induced in the wires, which was a remarkable phenomenon.

Auroras

• The geomagnetic storm caused extraordinary auroras, visible far beyond their usual range.
• Auroras were reported as far south as the Caribbean, and vivid displays could be seen in Hawaii and southern latitudes typically unaccustomed to such phenomena.
• These auroras were vivid enough to read newspapers by their light at night.

Aftermath and Significance

The Carrington Event highlighted the vulnerability of Earth’s technology to solar activity. While 19th-century society had limited reliance on electricity, the event served as an early indicator of the potential risks associated with solar geomagnetic storms. Today, the event serves as a benchmark for assessing the preparedness of modern technology and infrastructure against similar solar disruptions.

In the field of space weather, the Carrington Event underscores the importance of monitoring solar activity and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts of future solar storms on electronic and communication networks worldwide.