Dr. Ala Aldahan, a professor of Geology in the College of Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University, recently took part in identifying the remnants of a huge solar storm in both Greenland and Antarctica. The research group was made up of researchers from Lund and Uppsala universities in Sweden, the Paul Scherer Institute and ETH Zurich from Switzerland, the Niels Bohr Institute (Denmark) and the Berkeley Space Science Laboratory and Purdue University from the USA.

She highlighted the fact that, “The Sun’s activity varies periodically as a result of unpredictable events associated with particle emission from the Sun. A massive emission is known as a solar storm.” She further explained that, “One phenomena which follows a solar storms is twilight during which solar storms can cause such problems as the collapse of satellite communications and navigation aids, and more indirectly, ozone depletion and atmospheric corrosion.”

The team published their results in the NatureCommunications journal. The results suggest there are still remnants of two powerful solar storms from more than 1000 years ago trapped in the Greenland and Antarctic ice. This data, “provides the first reliable assessment of particle flow within solar storms and could lead to a reevaluation of the risks involved and how to mitigate the effects of such storms on power supplies, communications systems and future climate change.”

Dr. Ahmed Murad, Dean of the College of Sciences stressed the importance of taking part in this venture as it enhances the stature of the university internationally and helps to realize its vision. He added that, “the continued support the university administration has allowed the College of Science to build a globally respected infrastructure and state-of-the-art laboratories that help researchers and students to conduct top quality research for publication in top international journals.”