Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-17
EFFORT BEING MADE TO DETER.
MINE SUMS EFFECT ON At.
MosPhERic CHANGES.
SEVERAL AsrRoPAYs,cAL
OBSERVATIONS EsrAeLlsHEp
Congress. Provide. Fund. TO Continue
Experiments Along Meteorological
Lines in Hope Of Aiding Bureau in
Posting Farmers On Prospective
Changes in Weather.
Especial corre.pondence.l

Especial Correspondence
Washington. March 17.-As a result
of the action Of congress at the last
session in making special approprt-
alton of $1,000 for the purpose, DR.. c.
G. Abbot, director Of the astrophysical
observatory of the Smithsonian insti-
tuion. will be able to complete within
the next year an investigation which
was begun in 1905 and which, If 1t ar
rives at the expected conclusion, will
result in discovery of the first rank,
such as is not often made in astronom-
ical work
This investigation. is expected to
prove that the radiation OF the sun
varies and that this variation produces
a corresponding variation in the tenn
perature Of the earth. While this dis
covery. if made. will have its highest
value for pure science. 1t will also be
of great benefit in its application to
agriculture, to long distance weather
forecasts and other practical purposes
To complete the tests which have
been and still are being made at the
observatory here in Washington (sea
level). at Mt Whitney. (three miles
e.evation) and At Mt Wilson Gone
milo elecation). DR.. Abbot flnds 1t nee
essary to establish station in the
cloudless region Of southern Mexico.
Observations then will be taken at the
new station ard at Mt. Wilson stimuli
taneously. and II the two sets OF meas
urements should agree the conclusion
will be proved.
Congress Provides More Money.
Congress has provided for this trip
to Mexico by adding 5000 to the ap-
preparation regularly made for the
work OF the Astrophysical Obeerva-
tory, to the intense qualification OF Dr..
Abbot and Secretary Walcott Of the
Smithsonian institution a. they are
hopeful Of success attending the un-
dertaking. While the expedition wiz
not st out for Mexico until next July.
when It 10 hoped peaceful conditions
will be restored in tho southern repuo-
lie, the work Of preparation already -
under way. IN speaking Of the work
DR.. Abbot says:
when We began 20 make these
measurements there was nowhere N
the world any exact scale OF measure
nents OF radiation. altho physicists
had been working in devising instru-
ments for that purpose for about sixty
yeara Stu there remained an uneer-
:ainty OF 5 to 10 per cent tn the scare
OF pyrheliometry. - IL 10 called we
have devised several insuuments to be
used az standards for that purpose ana
in this last year we have made care
full comparison OF two OF our tnsuu :
merits of the most improved type, and
these agreed perfectly IN fixing the
scale Of measurenents-
Tiki. apparatus Is used now as
standard by which to standardlze
o Their apparatus which has been sent
around the world We have sent In
struments to France and Italy and
have requests for them from Arsen-
tina, Peru and other countries.
Experiments Cover Years.
"Our measurements at Mt. Wilson
have been carried on for several years.
The first expedition was in 1905 and
we have observed almost daily for six
months of each year from 1905 to 1910,
excepting in 1907. In 1910 was for
tunate in having two weeks OF GOOD
weather on the summit Of Mt. Whit
new. which IL the highest mountain
in the United States. carried on there
complete measurements which were
simultaneous with those carried on al
Mt. Wilson. We have found that the
results obtained at Mt. Whitney check
and substantiate completely the work
re were doing at Mt. Nilsson. There
;ore, having established a standard
scale OF measurement and having
shown that we &c. the same results
IT Washington. Mt. Wilson and Mt.
Whitney. We are now able to state the
value Of the solar constant Of radiation.
This value IL Of an importance equal
20 that Of the distance Of the sun in
astronomical work. Our measurements
show a range Of the value Of the solar
radiation outside Of our atmosphere of
about eight per cent
Keep Tab On Sun.
Now by taking stations 80 far
apart that nothing common in the at
nosphere can exist between them, we
nay actually prove whether or not
,hese variations are in the sun or are
something that we have not eliminated
in the atmosphere. II we ana them IN
'he sun We shall have made discovery
81 the hrst rank. 1t is clear that II the
sun varies. the temperature Of the
earth must vary correspondingly, per-
haps not always the same at all sta
tions. because the earth Is 30 affected
by the presence Of water and noun
tains and the like that not all sta.
tions would behave exactly alike; but
vet we will be able to dnd q relation
between the radiation Of the sun and
the temperature Of the earth that win
be 30 important to the meteorological
service Of this country and abroad that
undoubtedly this work we are doing
win be continued daily at several eta