New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-01
4 MAGNETIC STORM.

The paralysis Of and interference with tele-
graphic service in America and Europe yester-
day for a period Of several hours were not with
out precedent That kind Of phenomenon is of
comparatively infreguent occurrence, but has
been observed many times before. 1t is attrib-
uted by experts to a disturbance Of the earths
magnetism. and occasionally there have been
manifestations in the Southern Hemisphere at
the same time as in the Northern.
Like certain auroral displays in low ATTITUDES,
these outbreaks appear TO be associated in some
mysterious way with the appearance of spots
Oh the sun Hence there was a little reason for
expecting the latest one. An area Of solar sur
face of considerable extent was seen to be
marked with spots early in October. BY the
rotation Of the sun this region disappeared
fortnight ago. but it is now coming into view
again. The exact situation there cannot be dis
cerned by astronomers until the aXal move
ment has continued for day or two more but
it is not unlikely that the locality is still the
scene of perceptble activity.
Just what is the mechanism by which the
observed effect is produced is yet uncertain.
Perhaps ii would be more Ineligible if the
source OF the earths magnetism itself had
been determined beyond dispute. The coinci-
dence between magnetic disturbances and
sunspots is more conspicuous apparently, than
that between other terrestrial phenomena,
such as atmospheric commissions and solar out
breaks. So distinguished n physicist as Lord
Kelvin mas expressed scepticism regarding the
possibility that the effects in question could be
caused by activity in the sun, and he based his
doubts upon mathematical computations which
have inspired a good deal of confidence. There
is, however. an increasing array of facts point
ing In the other direction SO far as the spots
tber,Sal,-as are concerned they are nroDahIv
the products Of explosive action within the
sun, and are only symptoms Of something else.
Nobody Of consequence believes that they d.
recty disturb the magnetism or meteorological
conditions of the earth, but the tremendous
forces whose operation they betray may be
capable Of spanning the gap between the SUD
and the nearer planets. If the connection be
not due 10 some Of those magnetic and electri-
cal activities OF which man already has a par
tisl understanding, It is credible that a less
familiar agent, possibly OF the newly found
forms Of radiation, Will supply the needed ex-
PLANTATION.
A question which may possess great practical
Importance is revived by the correspondence
in point Of time between yesterdays magnetic
storm and the temperance Of the front end
Of the disturbed area on the sun. BY amateurs
who connect severe cyclones and other weather
phenomena with sunspots il has been held that
trouble was to be anticipated chiefly or exelu-
sively during the first two or three days after
the focus Of solar activity had come around the
eastern limb Of the sun by the rotation Of that
body IL is hard TO understand why this should
be So IL the influence exerted upon the earth
were that of magnetic induction, and depended
ON something which disturbed the magnetism
which is imputed to the SUD, one would suppose