POLAR YEAR WORK.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20905, 12 July 1933, Page 9

POLAR YEAR WORK.

OBSERVATIONS AT AMBERLEY. Although it was originally intended that the Polar Year observations being undertaken by the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory at Amberley would be concluded in August, it is possible that they will be continued for another month, and probably longer, before the complete records are sent to Denmark for collation and analysis with records taken all over the world. It was reported by the observatory authorities yesterday that the sensitive magnetographs which had been installed at Amberley were working well. and that the observations made in this country should be of value. One of the chief objects of the observations at Amberley is to investigate the physical mechanism of magnetic storms. Instruments for this purpose have been installed all over the world for the Polar Year work, and it is expected that when the results are analysed by. Dr.'La Cour, of Copenhagen, valuable contributions will be made to scientific knowledge. . .. \ j■ v It has been found that during magnetic storms the conducting and reflecting layers of the upper atmosphere appear to occur at an altered elevation. Even at low elevations the latest observations have shown a variability in the ionisation of the air at the times of sudden impetus in magnetic storms. These questions have a bearing on the transmission of wireless waves, and their investigation may produce many practical benefits. Once the records taken in various parts of the world have been analysed, they will be discussed by the best experts in the world under the direction of the Polar Year Commission, thus ensuring the maximum possible addition to the knowledge of terrestrial magnetism and geophysics generally.