The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-06
PREDICTING CYCLONES.
Sun Spots, Says a Prague
Are Sure HeraIS.-
Nam v1ry uar,A

New York Herald.
A very interesting paper In regard TO the
possibility OF predicting cyclones. hurrf-
canes, earthquakes and other atmospheric
disturbances was read at the last meeting
of the French Academy OF Sciences. The
timeliness OF such a discussion is evident.
There have been cyclones i'm several places
during the last year, but especially in
Paris. where they did much damage. since
then many French Swans have been labor
ing hard TO find some method by means OF
which such atmospheric disturbances can
be accurately foretold. We shudder when
we hear OF whole towns swept away. but
as a rule the disaster occurs far away from
miseries of the hapless and homeless VIC
tins. Not until we are face to face with the
danger do we realize its power.
So the French hardly realized the forcs
OF a cyclone until they saw one playing
curious pranks in the streets of Paris.
Now. to accurately foretell the time and
places in which cyclones VIII manifest
themselves is clearly not an easy matter.
Sometimes IL is possible TO make predic-
tons. using for the purpose such data as
the variations of pressure registered by
the barometer. the variations of tempera-
ture shown by the thermometer, the indi-
cations of the hygrometer. the electrical
CONDITION OF the atmosphere and the un-
questionable fact that there are certain
fixed periods at which cyclones may DE ex-
pected to appear.
But even with such data ii is practically
impossible TO make predictions with uner-
ring accuracy. As a French scientist says:
RMS branch of meteorology is still in
It's infancy. and the results obtained by
means of meteorological instruments ara
often either wrong. incomplete or contra
dictory."
The difficulty of making predictions IS
furthermore enhanced by the fact that cy-
clones are the result Of many different
causes, whereas their effects are invariably
the same II there were only cause. the
prophets task would be much easier.
"A novel prophetic method is used by
at Prague. According 70 him no Ofhap
instrument except the telescope is neces-
sary for such work. and he claims that by
only can cyclones be foreto.d but also
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
His prophetic method is based on distinct
scientific principles. He has noticed that
atmospheric and terrestrial disturbances co.
incide with periods of solar activity-that is
10 say, with the appearance of circular con-
centric spots ON the suns surface.
Hitherto meteorologists have considered
these spots as simply a manifestation OF
some disturbance in the sun itself. The
theory now is that, when such solar dis
turbances are seen, atmospheric or seismic
disturbances may surely be expected on
our planet. Shooting stars or meteorites
point of departure OF electric troubles are
also said to be forerunners or cyclones or
earthquakes.
Examine the sun, then. is NJ. Zepger's adj
vice. and be assured that when you notice
cyclonal spots on its surface there is good
cause for terror; The phase of solar activ-
- wv Ith H1ato anu
Nj. Zenger insists that our earth is. in con-
sequence much troubled every ten years.
He is said to have predicted the cyclone OF
July q, 1896, basing his prediction on the
fact that July "a. 1886. was a very stormy
day and that on both those dates such spots
We're clearly seen.
This eminent Prague astronomer has a
rival in the person of a ~well-known botanist
or Vienna As the former looks TO the sky
for inspiration, so the other looks TO mother
earth. The stock and petals of the shrub
known to botanists as Arbus precatorius
rnobilis are his guide. A faultless barom-
eter. indeed, this shrub appears to be. Its
SenSitiveness. we are told. is SO great that
merely by the movements of its leaves,
branches and stem. storms, earthquakes
and other atmospheric occurrences can be
foretold much more readily and accurately
than they can by the use of the most DEL
icate meteorological instruments
After ALL" as a French scientist puts
out. there is a little real difference between
these two methods of making predictions.
M. Zenger and the Austrian botanist work
in different ways, but they use the same
principle"