WORLD-WIDE EFFECTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1941, Page 6

WORLD-WIDE EFFECTS

MAGNETIC DISTURBANCES

NEWS SERVICE AFFECTED

One of the biggest spots on record has just crossed the sun's central meridian, and the effects of this solar disturbance are now being felt on the earth. There has already been serious, and probably world-wide, dislocation in cable and radio communications, with magnetic disturbances and auroral displays, and it is quite possible that the effects will continue to be evident tonight and even longer.

This huge spot started to cross the sun's central meridian on Tuesday last about noon, and this crossing was not completed until about noon yesterday —such being the huge size of the disturbance. There is apparently always a time lag between a spot crossing the sun's central meridian and auroral arid other effects on the earth. On this occasion the time lag is well marked, for it was not until last night, and more particularly this morning, that terrestial effects began to manifest themselves. There have been several reports of an aurora being seen locally last night, but the total blackout of overseas radio services this morning has been a much more definite indication of something untoward happening in celestial realms.

New Zealand, of course, is not the only place affected The spot's effects will undoubtedly be world-wide. A message from Sydney this morning, for instance, states that cables from London have been heavily delayed owing to an aurora, and in all probability it will be found later that communications everywhere have been seriously interrupted, as was the case earlier this year when there was another very big spot on the sun.

THE SPOT'S EVOLUTION.

The spot on the sun is one of the largest that has ever been observed from Wellington. Officials at the Carter Observatory estimate its length as about 175,000 miles, with, a width of 72,000 miles. Some idea of the immensity of this disturbance on the sun will be gained when it is realised that those measurements give an area of about 60 times that of the earth's surface. ,

The evolution of this spot has been very-interesting. Some weeks ago there were a few small spots in the locality where the big spot is now situated., but at that time there was no hint Of any development. With the rotation of the sun these insignificant spots disappeared from view for the time being. On Thursday last week they appeared again coming round the sun's eastern limb. On their reappearance the spots were seen to have increased in size, but were not particularly outstanding in this direction, and no phenomenal development was anticipated. However, since then the group of spots has gradually developed into something outstanding, and since 'the beginning of this week changes have been rapid and progressive, until the present terrific proportions have been reached. Originally there appeared to be two separate groups of spots, but since yesterday the two groups have apparently been merged into one gigantic spot.

AURORA POSSIBLE TONIGHT.

The spot causing all the present bother can easily be, seen with the naked eye, but smoked glass must be used in making any naked eye observations. Its present position is about ten degrees north of the solar equator, towards the western side of the. sun's surface.

Although no definite forecast can be made on the subject, it is more than probable that auroral displays will be in evidence tonight. The spot has already had an effect in this direction, but it is such a large and active one that it is more than likely that its effects will continue" to be evident for a day or two.