El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-09

TT HE weather bureau at Washing
ton and nearly all of the other
meteorological institutions of
the world, are now engaged in taking
observations of the temperature of the
sun, with view to determining what
changes take place in the radiation of
heat from that luminary Many years
ago professor Samuel p Langley, Of
the Smithsonian institution, having
observed that the appearance of spots
on the sun nearly always conceded
with weather disturbances, came to the
conclusion that perhaps the law of
the weather might be based upon
changes In the amount of heat given
OFF by the sun from day to day. With
this opinion as a working basis. as
tronomers and meteorologists all over
the world have become interested in
the matter. and have. resorted to all
sorts OF plans to wrest this secret
from the sun.
Follow Sum Movements.
1t is believed that the changes IN ra-
diation follow certain movements of
the sun, and that they recur at certain
well defined periods. just as the sea-
sons change on earth. How long the
periods are is not known, neither has
anyone yet discovered what brings
& lAOA4 dOOQt mere seems 10 nave DGoQ
some foregleams of this new idea of
weather prediction in the long-range
forecasts Of the past Although mod
ern meteorology has decried the art of
the long range forecasters, millions of
people still believe in the verify of the
weather predictions Of their old fash
Toned almanacs
The meteorological institutions OF
the world have entered into a sort Of
agreement to record upon every favora-
BILE day the radiation of the sun and
the related polarization of sky life.
These observations are exchanged by
the different institutions, and when
they have been taken for a long term
Of years and are compared with the
weather records OF those years, it is
hoped that weather forecasting at long
range will become a scientific reality.
Benefits of Long Range Forecasts
The effect of such a discovery upon
the civilization Of the world would
perhaps be greater than any other dis
coyery made in the entire history of tn
human race. Blessed with the ability
accurately to forecast the weather, no
farmer would need to feel the pinch OF
q destructive drouth With an I'M
usually dry season ahead OF him he
would need only to plant such cropt
as required little moisture, and dry
farming would become national in
stitution- On the other hand. IL
very wet season were in prospect he
would choose only such crops as need
ed much moisture for their most sue
cessful growth The effect Of such a
discovery would be- no less important
to men in other avenues OF life than
to the farmer The individual could
plan his vacation. his fishing trip. and
all other afafirs dependent upon the
weather. far in advance. assured that
there would be| no disappointment
thereafter
The Instrument.
The Instrument used by the weather
changes In radiation is known as the ]
pyrhelfometer. Coupled with an cleo
trical resistance thermometer 1t is so
sensitive to heat that IT can register
a difference in the temperature mill
lions of times more minute than may
be recognized by the average person.
The pyrheliometer is made OF two
blackened discs fitted on rod. pulley
fashion. and immersed in water. The
discs. and the amount Of radiation is
determined by the varying tempera
ture Of the water at the different ex-
posures.
The pyrheIiometer differs radically
from the instrument used by the AS
trophysical observatory in the inves-
tigation it is making to the same end
This instrument is known as the boz
lometer. 1t was invented by profess
sor Langley and improved by profess
sor Abbot who is now in charge OF !
the Astrophysical observatory. AS i'm |
proved this instrument is capable OF /
recognizing a difference of tempera- |
ture up to the hundredth millionth |
part of degree. One Of its essentials !
is the thread of a spiders web. hun |
dred times more delicate than any /
thread ever spun by human hand The |
gauze of a fly's wing is another item /
called for in its construction. TO {
which is pasted a mirror as small as /
a pinhead but as perfectly ground as |
a $4,000 reflector. The ray whose I
heat is to be measured is thrown into /
the tiny reflector and from that upon !
q thread of spun glass. The general /
principle of the bolometer is the same /
as that of the little solar motors one |,
liometers also are used BY professor /
Abbot in his investigation OF the con-
stancy OF solar radiation.
Only Small Part of Studies.
These Investigations are only small |
part of the weather studies being made
by the weather bureau at Washington
Some years ago an observatory was
he painted portrait OF a woman whose I
'ace was hidden by Qrav veil