THE SON’S HEAT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 8 September 1926, Page 2

THE SON’S HEAT

AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY LONG-RANGE WEATHER FORE CASTS The development, e-’ the discovery that the amount oi heat given off by the sun varies from day to day and year to year, by Dr. Charles G. Abbot, of the Smithsonian Institution, means that the appraisal of its value for longrange weather forecasting awaits only perfection of measurements ot solar variation and World weather, says a stateme.'ii issued by the Smithsonian. In any e\ cut it is ri'cOgnised that an essential element, new In weather tore casting. lias been do'Ciiveied and proved: its applieal ion is a mailer ol research and lime. The stali'iuent adds: "For thh tv years fir. Abhol lias been investigating the sun and measuring the heat it sends to the earth. In 190.3 lie surmised from bis results for previous years that (lie a mount nf that heat varied. Urged on by that clue and its great- significance In mankind il true, iu> has spent the intervening years in elaborate measurements of solar radial ion in many parts ot the world—at Mount- Wilson and Mount Whitney, California: at Uassniir. Algeria; at Mount I larqtfa Haiti. Arizona; and Mount Montezuma, in the nitrate desert of Chile.

DEAF LOPED INSTRUMENTS "He developed instruments capable of measuring a millionth ol a degree change in temperature, and other instruments ol the greatest complexity ;md usefulness to he used in connect ion with his measuring instruments for standardising and fur cnmpiuing results. "The outcome of all this work was to juslifv his belief in the truth of ids theorv. Bui some of the most prominent weather men in the world disagreed with IJr. Abbot. They did not doubt that weather would change if the sun’s heal- varied, hut they were noi convinced liv Dr. Abbot’s work that the sun's heatdoes vary. The proof which Dr. Abbot now announces appears finally to refute these criticisms and leave no further doubt of the variability of solar radiation. “The essence of this proof lies in n comparison of measurements of solar radiation made at- times when the atmosphere is practically idcntilically the same. It is obvious that if the atmosphere is the same and the instruments are correct any changes must mean differences in the amount of heal given off by the sun.

GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY AIDS "With the great step accomplished the next move is to make (lie daily measurements of solar radiation as accurate as is humanly possible. To help accomplish this, the National Geographic Society has given 55.000 dollars to establish a solar observatory at Mount Brukkaros. in South west Africa, lo cooperate with I'r. Abbot's two existing stations in California and Chile. "in ensure that al least one accurate measurement he made for every day ir, (he Year, a fourth slat ion is needed in the northern section of the Eastern 1 lemisphi'ri'. In' establish this the Smithsonian institution must have funds. 53 “As the same time intensive research on the relation between solar variation and world weather should he carried on. Aided by a private grant for the purpose, the Smithsonian carried on this work until .January 1 of this year, when lack of funds forced it to suspend these researches. Since no less a result than long range weather forecasting is at stake, the money needed should be forthcoming.”