The New York herald., 1873-10-27
Solar Spots and Terrestrial Weather
Periods.

Periods.
Among the most valuable papers recently
read before the British Association was one by
the distinguished meteorologist, MIR. Charles
Meldrum, on the connected periodicity Of
storms and sun spots. The elaborate and
cautious observations of Mr.. Meldrum entitle
him to be heard upon this problem, perhaps
the most important in the wide range of solar
and terrestrial physics. The object steadily
kept in view has been to determine whether
the years of maximum or minimum SUM-
spotedness were correspondingly marked by
cyclone frequency or deficiency the time
taken extending over twenty-six years. The
result establishes the conviction, before an
nounced to the Association, that there does
exist close connection between sun spots
or solar cyclones and terrestrial cyclones, or
what Mr.. Meldrum says may be called earth
spots, o connection which the records
suggest would be quite obvious to
an observer stationed on neighboring
planet. By taking the number of
cyclones in each maximum and minimum
sun-spot year, and in each year on either side
of them, he shows that during the maxima
periods 1S4S-5O and 1859-61 the number Of
cyclones was sixty-fve, whereas in the maxima
periods 1S55-57 and 1S66-68 the number
was only thirty-four, or about one-half as
many. In 1856 the observations attest only
one hurricane, and in 1867, both minima
years, there was none.
The caution Of the great scientist Arago that
we must be careful how we generalize facts
before we have o very considerable number of
observations at our disposal is certainly
timely in this vast and splendid investigation.
1t is by no means as yet clearly defined what
the sun-spot period is. The solar waves of
spot waxing and spot waning are not at all
alike in form or size, SO that when one Of
unusual extent occurs it will borrow both in
crest and trough from the waves on either side
years, instead of, as now computed, about
eleven years. Besides this vital consideration
and the additional fact that Mr.. Meldrum' S
researches are confined to narrow geographic
cal area, we must remember that the hurricane
records were but fragmentary, and are SO even
mass of accurate and worldwide observations
to demonstrate that sun spots are the poten-
tial weather rulers.
There can, on ths other hand, be no doubt
that the mysterious phenomena of sun spots
vary greatly from year to year, and hence that
the solar heat, as radiated upon the earth and
exercising magnetic, chemical and other dis
turbing influences upon our atmosphere,
greatly varies, 1t is well known that when
the sun is nearest our planet, in December
and January, there is very perceptible in
crease in the activity Of the earth's magnetism
as contrasted With vi yha! i is in summer. We
know, moreover that the excess Of summe,
heat in the southern hemisphere over that ol
our hemisphere, as also the deficiency Of
winter heat in the former (due to differences
OF solar heat) works very remarkable climatic
peculiarities in Australia and South America.
Nor is Mr.. Meldrum alone in his conclusions.
based on widely extended system Of inquiry
and meteorological registers, although we
may decline to pronounce his results indis-
putable. But, SO far as they go, and so far as
other observations prove anything, they war
rant the inference that there is very marked
and If it could DO discovered, most instruc-
tive connection between Mr.. Meldrum's "earth
spots" or storms and the solar cyclones which
sweep over the suns burning plains, appar-
entity with the same noticeable features as we
observe in our West Indian or any other ter
restrial storms. So far has investigation cor
roborated this view that it gives the amplest
encouragement for pursuing IL still further,
as, no doubt it will be pursued, until, per-
haps, this grand intorplanetary law may be-
come known to science and be utilized in the
many applications Of it TO everyday problems
Of practical lifo.