Dodge City times., 1878-12-07
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN
STORMS AND SUN SPOTS.

VIII ch we condense ~ follows: D1ring the
pat two years, the United States ard o'he' !
portions OF the civilized worli haze been |
visited with severe and remarkable storms 1
Their rapid succession and Destructive re- |
suits have provoked popular comment, and |
created serious alarm. This series Of terrible /
atmospheric disturbance invites the sugges-
tion that there must be some specisl local,
or cosmioai influence 10 account for the ex-
ceptional meteorological pbenomens. The
recent earthquake, whose shock was fel; the
whole length Of the continent, and as far
towards the centre az the eastern border OF
Ransss, undoubtedly is the eifec, of the
same force that presents itself now as cy-
clone-now az earthquake.
Unquestiop ably the disturbing cause for
the last two years, is the same as that in the
years of the greatest frequency Of remarka-
BILE storms in the past. The cause OF these
periodical yesrs Of violent .torms. it is con-
ceded, il due to the upususl magnetic activ-
i;y of the earth al that time, and the depen-
dence of this upon the sun's condition a. TO
the areas and number of spots. The pbe-
uomena Of their increase and gradual de.
crease through constant periods, has been
established BY the daily observations OF the
celebrated German Astronomer Schwabe.
and the confirmation OF his discoveries BY
other eminent observers. Scbwste found
that the solar spots increase in magnitude
and frequency for about five years and a
half, and decrease throulb an equal period,
completing the cycie in about eleven years.
Prot. LOOMS, in his Analysis oi the
observations Of many years,' shows conciu-
siyely an existence between the sun spots
period and the iBtensli, OF terreslisL mag
neiism. /, is subject to proof then, that the
meteorological disturbances under consider
s,ion are purely magnetic. These magnetic
variations, the results OF which are violent
storms on the esrth's suriace-were onct
considered ftful-iheir cause having beer
.uspscted, bat not believed periodiosl-ar'
equally with other distinct natural fo.see
cosmical in their nature.
We were struck with sstonishmeui, whei
last winter constructing diagrams to accom-
pany an article "0n Climatic Changes IL
The Prairie Region OF the United Ststes,
al the remsrka able conincidencs OF the year
Of maximum rainfall with the years Q
greatest frequency Of ruu--pots-so much 3
that we feel almos; warranted TO predict 70
an indefinite period, yesrs Of the maximum
rainfall for Ksnsss.
We are now approaching the eleven yea
period of the maximum sun-spots ilS19'
and we may confidently expect all the al
tendan. fury OF their phenomena for III
next ten years, with eliminating force s
the latter date. unless a. argued there
some compromising Law which in,erferes i
the moment OF the impending clssh t" r'
store the normsl equilibrium.
The almost universal mslsrial tpiiem
Of this year, which exhibited such aggrav,
ted types in favored localities, could
traced in all probability as the result of M
,.rolosicsl disturbance. induced by Il
esuees ALREADY pointed ouf. The prircip
volcanoes oi the globe ale pos At work, {
indicate by their pEemonitcry nutierini
the commencement Of their ira Of actiSit,
A writer TO scientific magazine says II
spots on the sGa sre 20 gigantic, 20 emo
nous. ,hs; the earth might pass throus
ore OF them without even producing sh
GOV. These spots continuing several we
Ard sometimes anon h.. serve a. dsis .or "a