Tree rings reveal globally coherent signature of cosmogenic radiocarbon events in 774 and 993 CE

0495446 - ÚVGZ 2019 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Büntgen, Ulf - Wacker, L. - Galvan, D. - Arnold, S. - Arseneault, D. - Baillie, M. - Beer, J. - Bernabei, M. - Bleicher, N. - Boswijk, G. - Brauning, A. - Carrer, M. - Ljungqvist, F. C. - Cherubini, P. - Christl, M. - Christie, D. A. - Clark, Peter W. - Cook, E.R. - D'Arrigo, R. - Davi, N. - Eggertsson, O. - Esper, J. - Fowler, A. M. - Gedalof, Z. - Gennaretti, F. - Griessinger, J. - Grissino-Mayer, H. - Grudd, H. - Gunnarson, B. - Hantemirov, R. - Herzig, F. - Hessl, A. - Heussner, K. U. - Jull, A. J. T. - Kukarskih, V. - Kirdyanov, A. V. - Kolář, Tomáš - Krusic, P. J. - Kyncl, Tomáš - Lara, A. - LeQuesne, C. - Linderholm, H. W. - Loader, N. J. - Luckman, B. - Miyake, F. - Myglan, V. S. - Nicolussi, K. - Oppenheimer, C. - Palmer, J. - Panyushkina, I. - Pederson, N. - Rybníček, Michal - Schweingruber, F. H. - Seim, A. - Sigl, M. - Churakova (Sidorova), O. - Speer, J. H. - Synal, H.-A. - Tegel, W. - Treydte, K. - Villalba, R. - Wiles, G. - Wilson, R. - Winship, Lawrence J. - Wunder, J. - Yang, B. - Young, G. H. F.
Tree rings reveal globally coherent signature of cosmogenic radiocarbon events in 774 and 993 CE.
Nature Communications. Roč. 9, sep (2018), č. článku 3605. E-ISSN 2041-1723
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA17-22102S
Research Infrastructure: CzeCOS II - 90061
Institutional support: RVO:86652079
Keywords : cosmic-ray event * atmospheric radiocarbon * ad 774-775 * c-14 * graphitization * variability * millennium * dynamics * gradient * increase
OECD category: Meteorology and atmospheric sciences
Impact factor: 11.878, year: 2018

Though tree-ring chronologies are annually resolved, their dating has never been independently validated at the global scale. Moreover, it is unknown if atmospheric radiocarbon enrichment events of cosmogenic origin leave spatiotemporally consistent fingerprints. Here we measure the C-14 content in 484 individual tree rings formed in the periods 770-780 and 990-1000 CE. Distinct C-14 excursions starting in the boreal summer of 774 and the boreal spring of 993 ensure the precise dating of 44 tree-ring records from five continents. We also identify a meridional decline of 11-year mean atmospheric radiocarbon concentrations across both hemispheres. Corroborated by historical eye-witness accounts of red auroras, our results suggest a global exposure to strong solar proton radiation. To improve understanding of the return frequency and intensity of past cosmic events, which is particularly important for assessing the potential threat of space weather on our society, further annually resolved C-14 measurements are needed.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0288422