Candidate Auroral Observations Indicating a Major Solar–Terrestrial Storm in 1680: Implication for Space Weather Events during the Maunder Minimum

Abstract

The Maunder Minimum (MM; 1645–1715) is currently considered the only grand minimum within telescopic sunspot observations since 1610. During this epoch, the Sun was extremely quiet and unusually free from sunspots. However, despite a reduced frequency, candidate aurorae were reported in the mid-European sector during this period and have been associated with occurrences of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), although some of them have been identified as misinterpretations. Here, we have analyzed reports of candidate aurorae on 1680 June 1 with simultaneous observations in central Europe, and compared their descriptions with visual accounts of early modern aurorae. Contemporary sunspot drawings on 1680 May 22, 24, and 27 have shown a sunspot. This sunspot may have been a source of ICMEs, which caused the reported candidate aurorae. On the other hand, its intensity estimate shows that the geomagnetic storm during this candidate aurora was probably within the capability of the storms derived from the corotating interaction region (CIR). Therefore, we accommodate both ICMEs and CIRs as its possible origin. This interpretation is probably applicable to a number of candidate aurorae in the oft-cited Hungarian catalog, on the basis of the reconstructed margin of their equatorward auroral boundary. Moreover, this catalog itself has clarified that the considerable candidates during the MM were probably misinterpretations. Therefore, the frequency of the auroral visibility in Hungary was probably lower than previously considered and agrees more with the generally slow solar wind in the existing reconstructions, whereas sporadic occurrences of sunspots and coronal holes still caused occasional geomagnetic storms.

On the Magnetosphere‐Ionosphere Coupling During the May 2021 Geomagnetic Storm

“…In this paper, we offer a global analysis of the 12 May 2021 geomagnetic storm, which represents a great space weather event occurring a few years after a new solar cycle onsets. We want to highlight here that despite statistical studies showed that strong geomagnetic storms take place around the maximum and in the declining phase of solar cycles (Meng et al., 2019, and reference therein), even under quiet Sun conditions significant space weather events can occur (Garcia & Dryer, 1987; Hayakawa et al., 2020; Hayakawa, Schlegel, et al., 2021; Willis & Stephenson, 2000). So the 12 May 2021 represents a significant case whose global analysis could help the current understanding about the direct link between solar driver and the relative geomagnetic response.…”

“…As a closing comment, we want to highlight that despite the Sun is in general more active during its maximum and declining phases, recent papers showed the occurrence of extreme space weather events close to the solar activity minimum (Hayakawa et al, 2020;Hayakawa, Schlegel, et al, 2021;Piersanti et al, 2020). As a consequence, we remark that this kind of global analysis -namely, the study of an ICME propagation from its source on the Sun across the magnetosphere-ionosphere system to its impact in terms of magnetic field changes and magnetospheric particle redistribution, is still the straightforward way available to understand the complex dynamics of the processes occurring in the circumterrestrial environment from a space weather point of view.…”

On the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling during the May 2021 Geomagnetic storm.

“…In this paper, we offer a global analysis of the 12 May 2021 geomagnetic storm, which represents a great space weather event occurring a few years after a new solar cycle onsets. We want to highlight here that despite statistical studies showed that strong geomagnetic storms take place around the maximum and in the declining phase of solar cycles (Meng et al, 2019, and reference therein), even under quiet Sun conditions significant space weather events can occur (Garcia & Dryer, 1987;Hayakawa et al, 2020;Hayakawa, Schlegel, et al, 2021;Willis & Stephenson, 2000). So the 12 May 2021 represents a significant case whose global analysis could help the current understanding about the direct link between solar driver and the relative geomagnetic response.…”

The Dalton Minimum and John Dalton’s Auroral Observations

“…This grand minimum has served as a benchmark for long-term solar variability with a significant reduction in sunspot occurrence (Usoskin et al, 2015;Muñoz-Jaramillo and Vaquero, 2019) and apparent loss of solar coronal streamers (Riley et al, 2015;Hayakawa et al, 2020c). A significant decrease in auroral visibility in the European sector was significant given the high magnetic latitude of this sector during this time period, which would generally cause one to expect more frequent auroral sightings (e.g., Usoskin et al, 2015;Hayakawa et al, 2020d).…”