The Washington times., 1906-04-15
DISCOVERY OF POLE
BENEFIT TO MAN
Prof. Larkin Points Out
Practical Value.
SHOULD STUDY AURORAS
Observations Established in Far North
Would Aid Cause of
Science.
By PROF. EDGAR L. LARKIN.

When there is a terrible cyclone on
the sun the polar regions of the earth
at times flash and glow with scintillat-
Ing lights high up in the air In nearly
|every case magnetic needles on land and
sea are greatly disturbed. They beat,
throb. and tremble as though they were
living things. Mariners must then use
extreme caution in sailing their ships
II station could be placed at the end
of the axis of the earth. it could be
finally settled whether that splendid
ring. the aurora, has its center at the
North Pole or at the north magnetic
pole, nearly 20 degrees southwark. The
height of the auroral streamers could be
determined and the exact amount OF de-
fiection of the needle
Bands and ends of the waving streams
OF light converge into crown at times
nearer the zenith. Its altitude could be
determined and also whether II is formed
where line parallel TO a dipping needle
extended meets the celestial vault. And
no doubt it would be found whether cleo
trio impulses escape from the magnetic
pole. or enter it from the surcharged
atmosphere.
The auroras should be studied with
care bv every means known They are
visible effect Of obscure waves dash
ing on the earth from the sun with a
speed Of $4,000 miles per second.
A Magnificent Aurora.
One of the most magnificent auroras
on record occurred on April 10. 1882. 1
counted 110 spots on the sun during the
day, one being 5000 miles in length.
RE
trembled and shot forth vast columns Of
every color of light from sunset to
dawn. NagnetograpEs were disturbed
throughout the world.
Another magnetic storm on the sun
and earth occurred on July I6, 1852. AT
12;iO p. m. the electric pressure on tele-
graph wires between New York and
Boston rose TO 492 volts, with a flow of
one-sixth Of an ampere. AT 1923 p. m.
a pressure in the wires between New
York and Providence. r l., rose TO GA
volts. with rate of flow of one-fourth
ampere. Fireballs appeared on wires and
polls in Nebraska, and a message was
sent from Chicago to Milwaukee with
out batteries: current sufficient came In
from space.
Arrheneous the great Swedish
electrically On a mountain. Great hopes
of solving the mystery of polar light
and magnetism are entertained of the
time when the entire polar regions win
be explored.
Ocean Currents.
1t is known that vast currents like
wide rivers flow in the ocean. and these
often are Of different temperature from
adjacent waters These flows are re-
markable and Of high scientific value
They regulate temperatures of great
areas of land. IF photographic stations
could be established at many places
within the Arctic circle, infiowing cur
rents could be studied and their tenn
peratures and velocities measured
Outgoing currents of cold water are
laden with icebergs and urged toward
the equator by the centrifugal ten
dency of the earth's axial rotation.
Immense accessions to the meteoro-
logy of the globe could be gained II
there were polar observatories. There
are regular circulations of air between
the polar and equatorial regions at diff
ferent attitudes. The complete philos-
ophy of permanent and variable winds
could doubtless be understood. especial
" the trade winds.
Hot air rises from the equator, flows
TO the poles. descends as it cooIs. and
makes its way toward the equator
again. But as the earth rotates from
west to east the approaching winds
lag and blow from the northeast in
our hemisphere.
The North Pole would be a capital
place to measure the difference of solar