Power of Sun Jets

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 7, 9 January 1936, Page 9

Power of Sun Jets

CAUSE OF WEATHER CYCLES LONDON, Nov. 23. The relationship between cycles of wet weather and “sun spots” was discussed by Sir James Jeans, the astronomer, in a lecture at the Royal nstitution.

These spots —any one of which is large enough to engulf the earth —are in reality “bubbles" of gas which rise from the boiling centre of the sun. When they reach the surface they bursi, and shoot off as jets of electrically charged particles at a speed which may rise to 300 miles a. second, or even a million miles an hour. Sir James said that 30 hours after a spot was seen to lie directly facing the earth wo had a magnetic storm. These streams of particles come out of the sun like a shot from a gun and hit tiltearth.

The sun spots vary in number from year to year, but have a definite periodicity of 11 years, which coincides with the periodic waves of magnetic storms.

“They arc responsible for the magnetic weather," said Sir James, “and it seems likely that the sun spots also influence meteorological weather. “There is a great deal of superstition about how far astronomical conditions affect weather —dry weather after the new moon, and so forth. The only astronomical phenomenon which influences weather, so far as we know, is the number of sun spots and the size of them."

Sir James showed how over a number of years tho height of the water in Lake Victoria rose in almost exact correspondence with tho 11-year peak periods of the sun spots, indicating an increased rainfall.

Further evidence was being gathered by Professor Douglas, of the University of Arizona,who had cut down innumerable trees and examined the age-rings in the trunks. 'At regular intervals there were especially thick rings, indicating a wet and hot year. It was possible' to reconstruct tne history of a country’s.climate by this means. Similar evidence was also being . obtained by noting tho regular intervals of certain geological deposits which resulted from increased rain.

Sir James said that while the largest number of these spots occurred every 11 years, they wero present nearly axways, and could easily be seen through a piece of dark glass,