MAGNETIC STORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26115, 30 March 1946, Page 6

MAGNETIC STORM

HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE CABLE AND RADIO SERVICES INTERRUPTED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Mar. 29. “ The evidence suggests that we must be in the midst of one of the most historically important magnetic storms ever experienced,” said Mr I. L. Thomsen, director of Carter Observatory, to-day commenting on the serious interruption of cable and radio services from i the northern hemisphere. No cablegrams from London or any part of the northern hemisphere were received at Wellington from 11 p.m. yesterday till shortly before noon, today, nor were any radio news messages received. The news bulletins from the 8.8. C. were .riiost indistinct,, and at times faded completely. Displays, of Aurora

Reports from England earlier in the week said that unprecedented displays of aurora borealis had been witnessed there, and Australia had some of the most vivid displays of aurora australis on record, and equally serious interference with the normal cable and radio channels from London. The G.P.O. in Wellington reported to-day that from early last night until 11 o’clock this morning cable, radio, and telegraph services were subject to interruption from the effects of aurora borealis and sunspot activity, ana in, respect of overseas communication there was a complete black-out. Beam wireless services and cables were worked only with difficulty, and radio telephone channels from New Zealand •to Australia and . the United States of America were unworkable, as also was the New Zealand-United States highspeed radio telegraph circuits. Local radio services with shipping and island stations were operated with extreme difficulty last night and again this morning. Inland telegraph communication was maintained on all circuits operated over voice-frequency channels, but those using the earth as a return circuit were adversely affected by foreign currents,. particularly the outlets with Wanganui, Hawera, New Plymouth, Napier, Gisborne, and Invercargill. From 11 a.m. to-dqy all circuits, including overseas radio and cable, were normal. The aurora australis has not been observed in Wellington since last Monday, due to cloudy conditipps, but the Carter Observatory has been flooded with reports, particularly from the far south, where the display has. been most brilliant. A Giant Saw • According to one Invercargill observer, “ a giant saw ” appeared in the sky about 0.45 a.m. on March 24, and from it came luminous formations like the teeth of a saw.* Some time later numerous shafts rose high in the sky, some being broader than the others. Except for slight scintillation, the rays seemed to remain stationary for approximately eight minutes, when the display at the, S.S.E. extremity of the sky was suffused with a bright crimson glow, which lasted a couple of minutes. The same night at Timaru an observer saw a bright red light beginning near the Pointers—the two stars near the Southern Cross—and becoming gradually paler as the night advanced. Beacon Hill signal station at Wellington saw the same red glow about 8.30 p.m., and it continued, - alternating with white rays, for half an hour. 1 All the evidence, said Mr Thomsen, indicated that the southern hemisphere was passing through an unprecedented magnetic storm of considerable his-; torical importance. While no sunspots of any .magnitude had been observed of late, from Wellington, it would now seem that there was considerable activity in that area .and that they were producing the present results. As soon as the weather conditions improved he hoped .to' be ;able to,make a more detailed report.