The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
Tho Great Magnet OF tho sky.

electricity have prepared the popular imai
q, ination for many extraordinary ideas ar
! theories concerning the part which Thu
mysterious force plays In the activities
, the universe. Most Of these theories al
very crude and no more susceptible of sail.
factory explanation than the KEELY mote
ls. But at the same time real advances hav
been made toward IN understanding Of tn
influence Of electric and magnetic forces l.
tho affairs Of the solar system, and when tn
truth is known, 1t is likely to prove far NOR
wonderful in reality than any Of the fanclfu
notions now proposed.
1t Is no new idea that tho earth is hug
magnet, having its north and south poles o
magnetism and It's lines Of force along which
the magnetic energy manifests itself. Anal
ogy would suggest that the other planets
are also great magnets, and there Is mort
than mere analogy to support the Idea thai
the sun is beyond comparison the mighties'
magnet OF them all. Ithas been known fol
many years that the influence Of the sun
upon the magnetism OF the earth Is most
| pronounced and powerful at those times
when the surface Of the solar globe Is most
| agitated by disturbing forces. Sun spots
bic manifestation Of the activity Of these
forces. Last year the sun was at its period
OF least disturbance, and there was corre-
spending quiescence in terrestrial magnet
ism. During the present year we may ex-
pect gradual increase Of solar disturbance,
whose effect upon the earth will be shown
by the oscillations Of the magnetic needle.
New facts have recently been learned about
the magnetic relations OF the earth and the
sun that increase the interest with which
the subject must be regarded. Comparisons
OF observations made at many stations all
over Europe have shown that the earth's
magnetism follows the mysterious impulses
communicated from the sun much more
faithfully than had been supposed. In the
year 1882, amid period Of great and numer-
Gus spots upon tho sum- and tremendous
outbursts of the seemingly pent-up energies
of the orb OF day. there was a sudden dimi-
mutton OF all these violent manifestations.
and the sun became, and for some months
comparatively quiet. At the
same time there occurred a marked falling
off In the daily oscillations OF the magnetic
needle. This condition continued until
December Of the same year, when sun
spots again burst forth with evidences OF
increased violence. Immediately the great
er oscillations Of the needle were re-
newed, and continued as long as the
sun gave evidence of unusual excitement.
Both the sun spots and the magnetic &C.
tivity Of the earth began to diminish after
1884 8, until as We have said, the minima
we're reached last year.
Tho for that ppa ~ tho rooct nopcpinuouo
OF the effect Of solar energy
n disturbing the magnetism of the earth is
shown in extensive displays Of the aurora
may be responsible for the now |
belief that the weather Is direct |
y influenced by disturbances in the sun.
t seems quito natural to conclude that II,
IS has often occurred, violent outburst In |
he sun is instantly followed by brilliant
Electrical display In the earth's atmosphere
he atmospheric influence OF the solar ener-
" may go further and be instrumental In
he production Of storms. But II the sun
xercses such an influence, its manifes-
atoms are either SO uncertain or 80 slight
hat no conclusive proof OF Its existence has
et been obtained. Recently. however obser-
atoms have been made which may possibly
brow new light upon this very interesting
uestion, and which at any rate present the
unin veryformidables shape to the imagina-
on. NJ. CHARLES LAGRANGE of the Brus-
els observatory has arrived at the conclu-
ion, based upon an extensive series OF obser-
atoms and experiments relating to the daily,
nnual, and secular variations of the mag
etic needle. that the sun, being charged with
ectricity, has become magnet as result
its rotation upon Its axis, and that the
lrth, being also electrified, and having in
ke manner become magnet is under the
rect influence OF the sun, within whose
magnetic field it Is moving. NJ.
AGRANGE proceeds to explain how the
agnetic axis of the earth, which does not
exactly with the axis of rotation,
Jay have been formed under the influence
the sun, and how it is caused to retrograde
Y virtue Of the earths rotation In the suns
agnetlc field. From the phenomena OF the
lilly variation OF the magnetic needle, he
includes that the sun electriiles the earth
: radiation and produces system OF cleo
ical currents, principally In the atmos- 1
lere, by means OF which the observed va
atoms are produced. The point OF maxi
um potential, from which the currents dl-
rye, always follows the sun In its daily
rcuit through the heavens.
The significance OF NJ. LAdRAEdK's conclu-
0ns with reference to the weather Is to be- {
und In his statement that the earth's at !
action on the atmosphere is composed of
70 elements: gravitation, which is con- I
ant, and the attraction of the layer OF |
covering the surface OF tho globe,
hich is variable and dependent upon the {
IN. In this way he offers an electro-mag- I
tic theory OF the formation of centres OF {
depression. and their movement f
ward the poles and from west TO east. II I
is theory should turn out to be substan- I
ally correct. then it would be easy to I'M I
,rstand how, and to what extent, the sun :
Iects the weather. 9
The manner in which the sun holds tho .
Irth with the resistless grasp Of CRAWL :
.tlon is familiar picture TO tho !
ind, but this idea OF its magnetic :
over over our globe is somewhat novel and =
startling, for it conveys o ,
reater sense of our helplessness. We know I
n Ntit N Ia o. 10, -, |