New-York tribune., 1909-11-07

one OF these Is the cause Of the rest, or whether
they all are consequences Of some action yet 10
be recognized Without a doubt, the aurora Is
an electrical phenomenon, or II would not be
so intimately connected with magnetic and
electric perturbations, and yet Il IS strange
fact that when II shows itself there Is no ab;-n-
dant manifestation OF atmospheric electricity
near the earth's surface.
The difficulty Ot aCcountIng for visible cleo
tricIty high III the ar has been VarOusly met
by savants Blot held that the luminosity
was zeal clouds of metallic matter lighted by
electricity and arranging themselves like mag
nets IN the air parallel 10 the dipping needle.
He derived his supposed clouds from dust
elected from vOlCanucS known o. he IN acton
near the magnetic poles, for the south has
It's aurora, ike the north, only II Is not SO
often observed. No one has supported tins
idea. DE Ia Rive supposed the light 10 be the
luminous effect Of the interchange Of positive
and negative currents between the colder and
warmer regions ~ the atmosphere.
The Rev. George Fisher, q polar observer,
considers that particles condensed from humid
vapors on the margin Of our polar icecaps play
an important part IN the development Oi visible
aurora; that electricity Is produced by their
CoagulatlOn, that the particles Aforesaid are
illuminated by The transmission OF the fluid
through them, and that the streamers are col
umns Of such frightened particles ascending
from lower 20 higher and electrically opposed
strata oi the atmosphere. Evidently ice grams
have something 20 DO with the matter, tor Il
has repeatedly been noticed that frozen splC-
uls descend from the sky during auroral dis
playS French craftsman. while SketChlng,
felt them falling on ms hands
The theory prop1undel by Professor LOOMS.
the historian of the 1859 aurora. bears rcsem-
blance 70 De L. Rive'~. The abundant vapors
ascending from equatorial seas are held 10 carry
up INTO the higher regions ot the atmosphere
quantities Of positive electricity, while the
earth's electricity remains negative. The
former Is conveyed by upper currents oi AR
toward the pole. and there earth and higher
s,lr form 10 10 speak the TWO plates Of CON
denser. between which an interchange OF elec-
trilitV takes place as soon as certain tension
Is reached. This interchange Is effected through
spaces Of least resistance, and, the streaming
electricity being luminous, the familiar auroral
l.-arns are manifested The currents returning
through the earth are held % be- the cause OF
the magnetic pcrtu. altions and the disturb
ances IN telegrlphic Wires-
Where Argon My Appear
DROFESSOR BERTHE-Or, in describing
l. ms experiments with the newly discovered
,lent nj IN the atmosphere, argpn, says, ne
northern Lights, which have so long puzzled
rn3riuere and scientists and frightened upper
stitious people. actually have been prouuced
on q small scale IN the daTkened laboratory.
In the blackness al night he obtained splendid
3st,lays of color similar IN every respect 10 the
Arrora Rorealis and the playing Of the lam
brnt flame was coInCIdrnt with a strange
change IN the chemical formation oi the new
,,..s The arpon appeared 10 be consumed by
~. little Aurora BOrealis II was throwing of
I,f.,r, the astouished and delighted eyes Of the
man 81 science
Thus Is the aurora affiliated 10 another phe-
,,,,,.,,.r In doe not however, nor 10 any OF
I. ,--.l.,.--0rs account for the accumulation
or he sudden generation Of the vast quantities
of electricity necessary for an auroral display
Rut We NAV know this when We have d>oov-
cred the ultimate source Of the st"rrh"use oi
"a. thunderstorm activity.
The aurora after al may De the SO" anu
silent lightning of the poles.