The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-04-06

at Kilauea lakes, for although the surface
Of the philosophers cannot be termed a
crust, it may normally possess just that
even consistence all over, which would
keep everything comparatively quiet, I'M
| til some external influence caused one
portion to differ from another. In other
words, the varying positions and distances
of the planets may disturb the equilibrium
/ in the heat of the suns superficial layer.
1t had to be remembered. as has been
often observed, that a visible sun-spot
need not necessarily arise at the point, or
even in the zone, where we first see it.
The first symptoms of change may be for
sometime invisible to us, and may orig
mate near the suns equator, or-let us
say-at any point where the plane OF a
planetary orbit may cut the suns surface.
This incipient increase IN the heat and
mobility of a point in the philosophers,
may only result in a vortex or sun-spot
when the general equatorial surface, drifts
as it has often been supposed to do
into latitude where the suns rotation
may begin to have an influence on the for
nation of worthless, and where some OBJ
servers consider, these cyclonic sun-spots
are first formed and marshalled into zones,
by the reduction of the rotational velocity
inthe latitudes where they are found.
1t has been remarked, however, that the
difference in the suns rotational velocity
in two approximate ATTITUDES, seems to be
too small to affect the direction of the re-
Tolution of cyclonic movements, and that
as a matter of fact sun-spots often appear
revolye in different directions in either
hemisphere.
1t has to be remembered that the form
alton of such worthless, as we are consider
ing, does not depend upon any difference
of the suns rotational velocity in different
ATTITUDES. This may only be one of the
disposing causes of the direction of the re
volution, and the worthless, under the vari-
ed and more powerful influences which
produce them in the sun, may revolve in
direction opposite to that due to a move
ment from the equator towards the poles.
The worthless in the Kilauea lakes and the
direction of their revolution, do certainly
not depend upon the earth's rotation, al
though this must tend to influence the
latter, Just as it does the direction of re
volution of vortex in a cistern of water
caused by an opening in the bottom. But
very slight local cause may change this
direction ether in the cistern or in the XII
lauea lakes
On this view, the planets may have
must have-sO7ne effect at all times, in dis
turbing the heat equilibrium in different
parts of the suns surfaces but when they
are nearest the sun, or when two or more
are in conjunction, this influences would
be greater. The Irregularities which have
been observed in comparing the maximum
period of sun-spots with the approach of
the planets to the sun, may not be incon-
sistent with the general observations, or
destructive of the planetary theory, of sun
spots, for the action may not be pheno-
menon, the result of the attraction OF
gravitation and amenable to exact com
putatiOn, but rather meteorological
phenomenon, arising from delicate and
complicated disturbance of equilibrium in
the heat of the suns surface an equili7
brium always unstable from other causes,
and, if the theory be admissible at all, al
ways affected by all the planets and their
varying periods. ..
There may be more in planetary infu-
ences" than We in these later times, have
given them credit for, and in view of the
vast effects of different kinds, which
changes in the state suns surface, are
now admitted to have upon our earth, the
old sages may have been right in attribut
ing much of the good and evil which hap
pens to mankind, to the positions of the
planets. But-patient souls-the horos-
cope was a poor substitute for the spect-
roscope and without this instrument, they
could hardly be expected to have been
able to trace the influence of the planets
in human affairs through the sun. 7g
w. L. GREEN.
Honolulu, March 11th. 1856.