The sun., 1900-12-09
SIN SPOTS AND RAINFALL.
Sir Norman Iockycr Hopes TO he Able to Give
Warning Of Famine Times in India.

LONDON. Nov. GA remarkable scientific
paper was read 10 the Royal Society In London
this week by Sir Norman Iockyer upon the
correction between spots on the sain and rain
fall on the earth. II Is based on vast num-
her OF observations taken in India and the
Manrtius and the practical service aimed at
Ia enable the Indian Government 10 lore
cast. and therefore TO prepare for. famines,
depending upon irregularities of rainfall Sir
Norman I.ockyer's line OF reasoning oan In
great part be followed even by people who are
not trained astronomers.
Spectroscopy shows changes In the lines
yielded by the image OF sun SPOT. from which
we may deduce very remarkable changes Of
temperature. At periods when sun spots are
numerous. Sir Norman I.ockyer finds that
lines belonging to unknown substances also
become numerous. whereas at periods when
there are few sun spots these lines give place TO
lines indicating substances with which we are
familiar. But these unknown lines may he
lines belonging TO known substances raised
To a temperature far higher than that of the
electric are. In that case it would follow that
when sun spots are numerous they are also
abnormay hot. and that when they are few
in number they are comparatively cool: thus
showing changes in the radiant energy OF the
sun such IA may reasonably be supposed 10
produce considerable effects on this planet.
IL is an obvious objection that tine area Of sun
spots Is small In comparison with the whole
area Of the sun that their s,iperheating can
make none but an inlnitesimal addition 10 his
radiant energy. But Sir Norman I,ocliyer
meets this objection by maintaining that the
sun spots indicate the existence OF zones of
eriptive protuberances from the suns sur
face. which may cover one-sixth of the whole
area. and therefore supply by their rise of tenn
perature that substantial addition to solar
hentnc power which IL required TO account
for great meteorological changes on the earth
The Times which devotes a leading article
10 the paper. observes that the rainfall fe-
CURED by theory appears 10 follow the solar
cause al an interval which may he one year
or two. ltisnot apparent why even the short-
or interval should exist. bu, that the interval
IL not constant Is more serious prao' o'iCal Oh
lection Indeed, some experience Of stafls-
tics disposcs us TO doubt whether the period
reviewed il nearly long enough 10 establish
n rule of any kind in a case whore the sequence
Of events Is by no means drterminato But"
n II says, AN approx imation is often extremely
useful 10 succeeding observers, II only by show
ing them upon what points thought and OBJ
servaton must be concentrated
These observations have been in progress
since 1870 Several years ago Mr. Eliot sur
missed that the rainfall in India largely depend
cd on the Indian Ocean the great pump
ing station" for the thirsty lands of Hindos-
tan and especially on the region Of the south
east trades Abnormal temperatures pro-
duce abnormal conditions OF atmospheric
pressure. and these AFFECT its cir, IIiat,on by
Strengthening or Weakening the air currents
especially tho southwest monsoon with
I he result of turning on or cutting OF the water
plenty the other famine The rule holds good
with other region, Nautilus has been al
ready mentioned Batavia. ,he care. Cor
doha. in the Argentine Republic, mark SINH
lar relation between rainfall pul,c- ard >un
spots High and low Niie iiooGs. at any rate
since 1870. have shown the sam.
The standard remarks on Sir Norman Lock
ycr> paper that the details in the theory now
cXpoundcd may be modified by more extended
inves; gation. for hints of another disturbing
cause are Afforded bv an abnurmality in IN.
last phase of the sun spot rcriod which ls con-
nccted with tho latest famine. hut IN" cvi-
denco already obtained appears 10 he enough
Ia confirm H." main Conclusions In The fl-
turc, then. apart from abnormaliiy in the phases
OF solar temperature. We may entertain an
expectation Of being able 10 predict Indian
famine> as the lean years in Egyr, OF old
were proph"sied and provided against