NEW SUNSPOTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12356, 28 January 1926, Page 5

NEW SUNSPOTS

WORLD'S CABLES AFFECTED MESSAGES NOT DECIPHERABLE SUBMARINE DISTURBANCE By Telegraph.—Pres* Assn.—Copyright' (Received January 2i7, 8.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 27. A submarine magnetic disturbance in the Pacific Ocean disorganised the world’a cable services. Cable experts in Sydney declared that the disturbance was probably caused by the appearance of large new sun-spots. The New Zealand cable is the worst sufferer, but reports received from all parts of the world state that cables are working badly. Most of the messages received in Sydney could not be deciphered. The disturbance began last night, and until late to-day the cables did not resume normal conditions. Dr Pigot, in charge of Riverview Observatory, said the magnetic disturbance in all probability was associated with the great groups of sunspots which had passed across the centre meridian of the sun and are now approaching its western rim, hut it was puzzling to explain why tho disturbance had not occurred two or three days since, when two great group of sunspots, which he had photographed, were on the centre meridian of the Bun, and in a direct line with the earth. Dr Pigot concluded: “If there is a real connection between the phenomena of sunspots and magnetic storms the present 6torm shows that

the axis of vertical movement of the electrons has been inclined very obliquely to the sun’s surface.”