The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-11-26
ARE WE TO BURN up?
Speculations Regarding the Ma
ture OF the Suns Heat.
Increase of Heat on the Earth During
the Prevalence OF sun Spots-The
SUMS Envelope Our Pro-
tectOr.

The violent heat that SO suddenly
followed the appearance of the great
sun spots in the latter part of June.
says Goldthwaite's Geographical Maya
zine. no doubt awoke in many minds
questions as to the nature and extent
of the influence exerted upon the
earth by variations in the condition Of
the sun. There appears to be no
doubt that the radiative energy of the
sun is increased when the spots break
out upon its surface, and it seems
reasonable to conclude that the earth
must experience a greater degree Of
heat at such times Yet, singularly
enough, the best observations bearing
upon this question indicate just the
contrary condition of things. 1t has
been found in India that the mean
temperature is lower instead Of higher
during the maximum periods of sun
spots. Such result must be b rought
about by terrestrial conditions which
effect of increased radiation from the
sun. But very great increase in the
solar heat could hardly be neutralized
in that way. II. then, the sun at GER
tain times suddenly pours forth an eX-
traordinary gush of heat, the earth
must take the consequences. This
whole subject becomes particularly sig
nificant in view of modern discoveries
concerning the nature and constitution
of such bodies as the sun. If not in
name, at least in practice, there exists
science of comparative solar physics.
All the suns of space are made to con-
tribute to our knowledge. Our own
sun falls into special class and is
found to be sharply differentiated in
many particulars from the stars that
do not belong in the same category
with itself.
Even the ancients knew, or at least
surmised. that the stars are suns, but
it remained for the astronomers of oul
day to demonstrate that there is I
great variety of suns. Still, through
all the variations there runs family
likeness and an evident identity Of ulti
mate constitution and destiny. Sc
the different classes of suns merge
into one another by almost insensi
utC 4uSIC Ii ulSo CIV
idence that suns pass from one class
into another. either as result of pro
gressive development or in consequence,
of the sudden outbreak Of transform
ing forces. The last fact is of suprem,
interest to the inhabitants of a plane
which, like the earth, depends for it
prosperity. and even for its very exist
ence, upon "a solar orb that is liable t
stupendous changes. The periodical out
break of sun-spots in a cycle of abou
eleven years alone suffices to place tn
sun in the large and continually in
creasing list of the so-called variabl,
stars; and the wide difference in tn,
intensity Of these outbreaks at differ
ent times indicates that we canno
count upon the changes in the suns RI
diative energy as we do upon such com
paratively regular variations as thos
of the seasons, which are capable O
geometrical calculation. So long a
the amount of the change is small. an,
it has been during the period covere,
by human history, no serious result
are to be apprehended, but there is n
absolute certainty that the change ma
not suddenly become destructivel
great. Such an event is improbabl
but not impossible. Not only tn
sudden apparitions of new stars, blu
also the enormous changes O
brilliancy that many well-known Va
riable stars undergo, furnish evi
dence ct the potential capacity of
sun to burst forth, upon suitable prov
ocation, with an overwhelming energ
of radiation in the face of which n
planetary life could survive
The sun is surrounded with wha
from our point of view, might b
termed protective envelope, or a
mosphere, which absorbs, as the spe,
troscope shows, large part of the r;
diations proceeding from the tremel
dous inner core of the solar glob
Other stars possess singular absor]
tive envelope, and in consequence al
ranked in the same class with the SUI
In some stars this envelope is far mo-
effective in producing absorption tina
is the case with the sun, and such sta
seem to be smoldering and sinkir
toward extinction, though in SON
cases they occasionally fare up wi,
furious outbursts, as though strugglir
against impending fate. But by Fl