Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-04
SUN spors AND EARrH PHENOMENA

The scientific world is again agitsted re-
garding the disturbances noticeable in the
atmospheric envelope of the sun. That an
unusual number of sun spots have been
this lyear observed is agreed. But as to
how far they have an effect upon the ele-
ments on this earth, the scientists are very
far from agreement. Very naturally the
occurrence of cyclones and tornadoes, ex-
cessive rains and great floods, epidemic
and phenomenal elemental disturbances in
a year when numerous observations show
that there are more than the usual number
of spots on the sun, and that there are
fearful connections upon the face of the
surface of the surrounding matter, or en-
velope, of the luminsry that rend its tex.
ture, and exhibit evidences of violence
that human Imagination cannot even grasp,
all these incline men to believe in a direct
relation between them. But it may be
stated that there have been years when the
earth has been quite as much afflicted as in
this one, when the sun spots have not
multiplied. nor have shown any sudden
changes, and when there have been no evil
dences of unusual disturbances in the suns
atmosphere. 1t does not follow, therefore,
that because solar storms prevail at this
time of such an awful character, and of
such stupendous magnitude and terrible
fury, that the phenomena has direct re-
lstion to elemental troubles of our own
sphere. The truth is that in the present
state of scientific investigation the matter
is not one so settled as to prevent reason
able existence of two distinct beliefs upon
the question of the relation of solar storms
to earthly phenomena. But there is IN.
questionably strong testimony in favor of
the theory that the solar influences
referred to are more frequently observable
In their results upon solar matter at times
when there are great floods and heavy
wind.storms on earth than at other peri.
DDS. Jolinek was not able, after all his
researches, to arrive at the conclusion that
the evidence warranted the verdict, on his
part, at least, that the sun.spots were the
cause of atmospheric disturbances on this
globe, because he could not detect any
influence upon the esrth's temperature st
the time when it should have been mani
fest, if the theory is sound that the sun
spots create or augment mundane elemental
disturbances. But Smyth, Stone, Gould
and Proctor have found that the tempera.
ture at the earth's surface was
lowered during the collar disturb.
ances, while Chambers found that in India
it was raised. 1t is admitted that Langley
has established quite beyond dispute that
the sun spots are rents in the cloud
envelope of the sun, and from this fact
many astronomers hold that there can in
reason be no relation between earthly and
solar physical disturbances, since the
theory has foundation that the body of the
sun to its heart is an intensely heated
mass, and the vspors surrounding it are
shifting and constantly exhibiting the mu-
tations noticeable in our own atmosphere.
But while Herschel maintained this view,
Proctor denies the circumstances of the
solar orb and atmosphere SO different from
our air and earth, that the compariso1s are
unsafe. The years 1878 and 1879,
according to Professor Kirkwood, were
those of spot minima, and in
those years The earth's surface was re.