River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-12-30
4 ST0RNIN THE Sun.
How the Fircy BIazes Blow in the
solar Atmosphere

Observers Of the sun found indica-
tons Of intense commoti0n recently,
| The sun spots were many, large and
active, and protuberances shot up their
| rese-colored tongues with increased
! force and velocity from the surface.
| The earth made instaneOus response to
! the solar storm. A magnetic disturb
ance suddenly began, accompanied by
an unusual exhibition Of earth currents.
! The magnetic disturbances suddenly
| began, accompanied by an unusual eX-
| hibition Of earth currents The mag
netic variations We're frequent and
| large, ard the earth currents continu-
Gus and strong, 1t is years since the
| Greenwich observatory has recorded
magnetic disturbances Of equal magni-
! tude, and it sends forth a timely warn
/ ing to telC graph engineers, and espec-
! tally TO those connected in laying sub
marine cables that earth currents may
now become frequent as compared with
! the quieiness of recent years. \ su-
| perb exhibition of aurora accom- anied
the magnetic disturbances An oh
server at the Stoueyhurst observatory
describes it rs recalling the magnificent
displays Of 1909 1870 and 1871, while
the play of the magnets was one of the
most violent ever recorded a, that OBJ
servatory. The auroral display was ex-
tensively Obscrvacl in Scotland and
England One observer describes it a.
an outburst ofstrcamers, appearing like
wavy, sNaying curtains from the zenith
TO near HE horizon, with the loviest
green tints neal the zenith. Another
writes that the streaks extended from
horizon to zenith, ;he color being prin-
cipally pale blue with n reddish tinge.
Another paints the display rs a brilliant
white light followed by streamers, each
strcamcr fading away before the sue
cecdiug one became very bright. Still
another records glowing celestial pic
turc Of the northern horizon skirted
by bright white haze, terminating in
an ill-defined arch, from which sprang
large number Of broad streamers
stretching toward the zenith.
The same phenomenon was seen by
American observers, although It did
not receive the attention bestowed up
on it by European observers. 1t IS cy-
ident, however, that the epoch Of
grand auroras and magnetic storms has
returned and that our northern skies
for months to come VIII probably be
lighted with auroral flames. More
earnestly than ever arises the question
Of the cause uf,sun-spots cycle and its
intimate connection with electric and
magnetic phenomena. No one doubts
that the tommgtion on the solar orb Is
reflected on the earth in the flashes of
aurora light and the errative move
ments Of the magnetic needle. We
can see the cause and note the effect.
But no one, if the theory Of disturbing
influence Of the great planets il
rejected. has found the clue to the Sc
crct Of the sun spots. We can only
grope in darkness while we wait for
persistent searchers to solve the prob
lem, AMI admire with mingled rever-
ence and awe the mighty powers with
which the sun sways his retinue Of
worlds, and the strength Of the sympa-
thetic chord by which each planet in
the system reflects its auroral light and
disturbed magnetism the abnormal
condition Of the great central orb