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

Author

Listed:
  • Ulf Büntgen

    (University of Cambridge
    Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
    Global Change Research Institute CAS
    Masaryk University)

  • Lukas Wacker

    (ETH Zürich)

  • J. Diego Galván

    (Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL)

  • Stephanie Arnold

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Dominique Arseneault

    (Département de biologie, chimie et géographie)

  • Michael Baillie

    (Queen’s University)

  • Jürg Beer

    (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Eawag)

  • Mauro Bernabei

    (Trees and Timber Institute)

  • Niels Bleicher

    (Competence Center for Underwater Archaeology and Dendrochronology, Office for Urbanism)

  • Gretel Boswijk

    (University of Auckland)

  • Achim Bräuning

    (Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU))

  • Marco Carrer

    (University of Padova)

  • Fredrik Charpentier Ljungqvist

    (University of Cambridge
    Stockholm University
    Stockholm University)

  • Paolo Cherubini

    (Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL)

  • Marcus Christl

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Duncan A. Christie

    (Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567
    Blanco Encalada 2002)

  • Peter W. Clark

    (University of Vermont, Burlington)

  • Edward R. Cook

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • Rosanne D’Arrigo

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • Nicole Davi

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
    William Paterson University)

  • Ólafur Eggertsson

    (Icelandic Forest Research Mógilsá)

  • Jan Esper

    (Johannes Gutenberg University)

  • Anthony M. Fowler

    (University of Auckland)

  • Ze’ev Gedalof

    (Department of Geography)

  • Fabio Gennaretti

    (Université de Lorraine)

  • Jussi Grießinger

    (Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU))

  • Henri Grissino-Mayer

    (University of Tennessee)

  • Håkan Grudd

    (Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, SE-104 05)

  • Björn E. Gunnarson

    (Stockholm University
    Stockholm University)

  • Rashit Hantemirov

    (Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences)

  • Franz Herzig

    (Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection)

  • Amy Hessl

    (Department of Geology and Geography)

  • Karl-Uwe Heussner

    (German Archaeological Institute)

  • A. J. Timothy Jull

    (University of Arizona
    University of Arizona
    Institute of Nuclear Research)

  • Vladimir Kukarskih

    (Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences)

  • Alexander Kirdyanov

    (University of Cambridge
    Sukachev Institute of Forest SB RAS
    Siberian Federal University)

  • Tomáš Kolář

    (Global Change Research Institute CAS
    Mendel University in Brno)

  • Paul J. Krusic

    (University of Cambridge
    Stockholm University
    Navarino Environmental Observatory)

  • Tomáš Kyncl

    (Global Change Research Institute CAS)

  • Antonio Lara

    (Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567
    Blanco Encalada 2002)

  • Carlos LeQuesne

    (Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567)

  • Hans W. Linderholm

    (University of Gothenburg)

  • Neil J. Loader

    (Swansea University)

  • Brian Luckman

    (University of Western Ontario)

  • Fusa Miyake

    (Nagoya University)

  • Vladimir S. Myglan

    (Siberian Federal University)

  • Kurt Nicolussi

    (University of Innsbruck)

  • Clive Oppenheimer

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Jonathan Palmer

    (The University of New South Wales)

  • Irina Panyushkina

    (University of Arizona)

  • Neil Pederson

    (Harvard University)

  • Michal Rybníček

    (Global Change Research Institute CAS
    Mendel University in Brno)

  • Fritz H. Schweingruber

    (Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL)

  • Andrea Seim

    (University of Freiburg)

  • Michael Sigl

    (Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute)

  • Olga Churakova (Sidorova)

    (Siberian Federal University
    University of Geneva)

  • James H. Speer

    (Indiana State University)

  • Hans-Arno Synal

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Willy Tegel

    (University of Freiburg
    Archaeological Service Kanton Thurgau (AATG))

  • Kerstin Treydte

    (Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL)

  • Ricardo Villalba

    (IANIGLA - CONICET)

  • Greg Wiles

    (Department of of Earth Sciences)

  • Rob Wilson

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
    University of St Andrews)

  • Lawrence J. Winship

    (Hampshire College)

  • Jan Wunder

    (Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
    University of Auckland)

  • Bao Yang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Giles H. F. Young

    (Swansea University)

Abstract

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 14C content in 484 individual tree rings formed in the periods 770–780 and 990–1000 CE. Distinct 14C 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 14C measurements are needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulf Büntgen & Lukas Wacker & J. Diego Galván & Stephanie Arnold & Dominique Arseneault & Michael Baillie & Jürg Beer & Mauro Bernabei & Niels Bleicher & Gretel Boswijk & Achim Bräuning & Marco Carrer , 2018. "Tree rings reveal globally coherent signature of cosmogenic radiocarbon events in 774 and 993 CE," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-06036-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06036-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Dan Li, 2022. "If a tree grows no ring and no one is around: how scientists deal with missing tree rings," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 174(1), pages 1-19, September.

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