The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-22

The Recent Tomatoes and Sun Spots.
tainty and contradiction involved in the OBJ
servations hitherto made for the purpose of
sun has anything to do with the frequency
or violence of terrestrial storms, the recent
tornadOes, and those Of April, coinciding so
closely as they have done with great solar
outbursts, would possess very great
weight as affirmative evidence. As
1t Is, they tend strongly to favor
the affirmative side of the question Men of
science differ widely in their views as to
which side possesses the preponderating
weight of evidence. Hardly anybody, how
ever, now disputes the influence of sun spots,
or the cause which produces sun spots, upon
the earth's magnetic condition The evil
dence to prove that influence seems to be
overwhelming, and the connection of the
great auroral display and magnetic storm
in April and the less brilliant auroras
OF the present month with solar out
bursts is conceded. On the other
hand, the evidence Of the influence of sun
spots upon the temperature and gen.
eral meteorological conditions of the earth is
unsatisfactory. The trouble is not so much
the difficulty Of perceiving what at least
seem to be indications of such an inliu-
ence, as of reconciling the contradc-
tions that arise. Observers in some
parts of the world have noted a
slight increase of terrestrial temperature
during the maximum periods of sun spots;
others in other parts of the world have
found slight decrease Of temperature dur
Ing the same periods. Prof YoUNG thinks il
would be fair to say, on the whole, that there
is very slight balance of probability in
favor of the view that years of sun-sDot
maximum are degree or two cooler than
those OF sun-spot minimum; but he adds
that the next investigation may carry the
balance to the other side.
There is better evidence of the connection
Of sun spots with the frequency of great
storms; but here, as in the other case, con-
tradictions have arisen, and the whole sub
ject is in an unsettled condition. One great
source OF the uncertainty that attaches to
the question, perhaps the principal one, is
the fragmcntary nature OF the observations.
They are mostly merely local, and extend
over too brief periods. AT present there is
not sufficient means Of connecting such
observations so that they will show
what the effect of the sun-spot max
ina is upon the earth taken as
whole. From general point of view, con-
Trajectory results from local observations
need not be looked upon as conclusive evil
dence against the existence of the suspected
influence, both because of the comparatively
small portion Of the earth's surface covered
by the observations and because the very
contradictions observed Indicate some dis
turbance, which, like many other forces of
nature, may manifest itself in different forms
according to local circumstances, although,
could our view embrace the whole of the
phenomena, we might find the general re-
suits to be uniform.
This subject is yearly attracting more at
tention, and the observations made last
year and this year may go far toward
a solution OF the puzzling question. or
course, If we could be sure that cyclones
and other great storms are more likely to
occur during periods OF sun-spot maximum,
that knowledge might be of some use in
guarding against them; but IL is not likely
that this study will ever be of any great
service in furnishing storm warnings. The
knowledge to be acquired IL Of much more
general nature, though not the less interest
Ing or important on that account.
1t Is noteworthy that the recent disas-
trous tornadOes in the West indicate the ex-
istence OF some atmospheric condition favor
cable 10 their formation, which extended over
"A WHO region OF country, and which, under
the influence oi favorable local circumstances,
produced cyclonic effects nearly slmulta-
AeouslY IN places widely separated. Thus the