The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-06
DAILY PRESS.
Saturday Morning, Aug 6, 1870.
Il Explanation in the Late Variations in
he Xe,shar
CORTLAND

the Weather.
Mr.. L. Calbert Of the Chicago Tribune has
an article in the Western Monthly published
at Chicago, in which he attributes the unusu-
ally cold weather last spring and the very hot
weather OF this summer, to the existence of
spots on the sun covering 1-130 of its visible
surface, and diminishing proportionately the
heat we derive from it. After explaining the
constitution of the sun and showing that the
spots are caused by solar hurricanes of vast
dimensions disturbing the solar. envelop, he
says:
Here we have bond of sympathy estab-
lished between the members of the great solar
family. But the affection must be mutual
reflex. These storms in the sun react ON the
bodies which circle around him, and produces
variations in the average of vitalizing force
which he supplies to them. Let us look at
the phenomena which result on this earth
indices OF the changes which occur in all the
other members of our family of worlds.
What, then, are the consequences, to our
earth, of the Obscuration OF one part in 130 of
1870?
First-A reduction in the amount of heat
supplied to the earth by the sun Ito atmos-
phere, water and land corresponding to the
lessened area of calorifying sun surface. We
estimate the reduction to be fully two degrees
OF the Fahrenheit scale. This diminutiOn of
temperature applies to the whole mass, but
not uniformly to its several parts; because
subordinate causes are ever at work TO pro-
duce deviations from the average temperature
of particular localities. This involves,
Second-A dminution in the amount of
water taken up by the sun from ocean and
land principally from the sea) because, un-
der the same conditions, the amount of heat
force measures the quantity of work perform
ed. This involves, also, diminish ed rainfall
on sea and land, because all the moisture
evaporated from the surface, and no more, is
returned to it in the shape OF rain, dew, hail
or snow. The average temperature of the
whole earth's surface being Dove) So de-
grees, while the annual rainfall is nearly the
same number of inches, the decrease in the
evaporation and rainfall might be assumed to
be two inches. 1t will, however, be nearly
double that amount, because the evaporation
increases in greater iatio than the tempera-
ture.
Tbird-Greater sensible heat at mapy
points on the land, ard very IRE gular regis
Ter OF temperature. The greater heat is due
to the lessened rainfall, which involves less
evaporation from earth surfaces. Every one
knows how the hot earth and air are cooled
by natural shower, or by artificial sprink-
ling-even with hot water. This coolness is
the result OF the ensuing evaporation. In
changing from the liquid to the gaseous con-
ditioD, water abstracts $40 degrees of heat
from surrounding matter, changing it from
the sensible to the latent form; and even this
large amount OF distracted heat is increased
to more that 100 degrees in passing from Or
binary temperatures, through the boiling
point, to a state of elastic yapOr,
Every pound of water that is evaporated
from the lard takes with it as much heat as
would suffice to raise six pounds of water
from the freezing to the boiling point. This
heat is carried into the upper atmosphere,
where it is set free when the vapor is condens-
ed to form rain. But it does not descend with
the rain; it still rises, to warm the exterior
air, and to radiate outwards into the measure
less void. Thus a diminished supply of heat
to the whole globe causes an actual increase
of sensible temperature on a minor portion of
its surface.
1t has been computed that the solar rays
produce effects equal to the melting of a coat
ing of ice ninety-eigbt feet thick, all over our
globe. Assuming the average temperature
and rainfall at fifty-eight and one-fourth de-
grees and ffty.eIeht inches, we compute
that fully twofifths of our received heat is
carried off by evaporation. In other words,
an utter absence OF rain would result in
an average elevation of temperature of
about ttwenty-three degrees all over the earth's
surface. Here we have the cause of the ex-
cessive heat in the rainless regions. A dimi-
mutton of the annual rainfall in this climate,
to the extent of four inches, would raise the
temperature of the whole year five degrees
above the average; and the excess would be
very unequally distributed in point of time,
owing to the causes noted in the following
naraOrapb ThuS tho iafiaiapoy IN, 81
rainfall is much more than four inches of
rain fell during the first six months of the
year; the usual quantity being about fifteen
inches.
Fourth-an increase in the amount of
chemical activity both in combination and
decomposition; and greater display of cleo
trio and magnetic phenomena; because these
phenomena are now identified, beyond a
doubt, with chemical changes. They are the
exact equivalents OF each other, like heat
ard mechanical force. Hence, unusual ir-
regularity in temperature, because electric ex-
citations cause rapid atmospheric changes-a
fact well known to the meterologst.
Here we have the cause of the strong con-
trasts OF temperature met with this year at
short intervals. From the actinic character
of the rays emitted by the sun spots we infer
the folowing A more rapid growth of yere-
tation, where not 1nterfered with by excessive
dryness, partial crop failures, and a greater IL
ability to rot alter maturity; unusually sud-
den attacks OF disease in the animal world,
with an enhanced tendency to the epidemic
form; and increase in human mortality.
we can only note briefly a few facts which
tend to support our views with regard TO the
influence OF sun spots on earth conditions. Ql
Reports from seafarerS all agree on the fact
that the weather of the present spring and
summer has been unusually cool on the ocean.
which covers three-fourths of the eartl,'s sur
face. w The whole cereal producing worlS
has been visited by a drouth, almost unpre-
cedented in duration and extent; it has lasted
for months, and been generally all over Amer
lea and Europe, the rainfall being much less
than half the average quantity. This is a
proof of diminished heat, and decreased evap-
Grafton on the ocean, which is the great feed
er OF the rain clouds. ~ Reports from all
parts of America and Europe tell of extraor-
dinarily excessive heats on land, and great
irregularities il temperature. (4) The year
mas been marked by unusual electric disturb
ances in the atmosphere, fine displays OF the
aurora bOrealis, interruptions to the flow of
the electric fluid among the telegraph wires,
thunder without rain, numerous deaths from
the lightning stroke -four in Chicago), and
earthquakes extending nearly half way around
the globe, from Mexico to Japan, on the 12th
and 18th of May. These were also lelt in
Perryville, Alabama; Charleston, South Caro-
lima; Shreveport, Louisiana; in Arkansas, in
the Island of Guadaloupe, in all these from
the roth to the 18th of May, and in New York
city the shock was felt on the 25th of June.
threatening toprove the staid Knickerbocker
city to rest on an equally insecure foundation
with San Francisco. To these we NAV add
the partial failure in the grain crops of Eu-
rope, complete loss of fruits in many parts of