Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-25
Bv Garrett P. Serviss

miles or more apart. Yet the resemblance
between tornadoes and sun spots can
only be superficial.
ted with tornadces Is the awful roar that
accompanies their passages. But \ sun
spot must create a noise on the sun thou
sands OF times greater than that Of the
mightlest tornado and II the atmosphere
extended from the earth to the sun there
can be little doubt shat we should be
able 10 hear the roar Of sun spots, But
there is a gap Of space more than ninety
million miles across between the earth
and the sun and that gap Is filled with
nothing except the ether. which. although
II bears the waves OF light and eIectri-
city cannot carry sound waves. Conse-
quently the uproar Of the sun spots is
inaudlble on the earth. Many years ago
Edison made some experiments intended
TO render the bowling Of sun spots
audible by means Of a gigantic mega
phonie telephone. aetuated by the cleo
trio waves from the sun. But the effort
did not succeed. Perhaps some day a
similar attempt may be successful. and
It It should be the ears Of man would be
greeted with sounds such as were never
dreamed Of. To listen to the raging Of the
tormented sun. ninety-three million miles
away, would be an experience surpass-
ing all other achievements OF human in
genuity.
The cause OF the sun spots remains
unknown. They are probably due TO some
action going on within the body Of the
sun. The sun consists Of substances re-
sembling those OF which the earth ls
formed-sueh as iron, calcium. silicon
and other elements out Of which our
rocks are made, but. owing to the In
tense heat. these substances instead Of
being solid are In the state Of hot glow
ing vapors. The immense size Of the sun
$500 miles in dIameter-causes these
vapors and gases OF which II consists to
be subjected TO enormous pressure. and
, titanic explosions occur from within.
shooting vast masses Of glowing matter
to heights Of tens. and sometimes
hundreds Of thousands OF miles.
Sun spots appear In cycles, or periods,
averaging about eleven years from one
maximum to the next. The latest sun
spot maximum occurred in 1906 ahl we
are now at a miaimum stage IN the
period. although the sun is seldom en-
tireiy free from spots for several months
in succession
One Of the great problems OF astr1n-
omy is to determine the exact effect Of
sun spots upon the earth. II is evident
that when the sun Is much spotteJ there
must be some reduction In LIE amount
Of heat received from Il, because the darn
spots are cooler than the surrounding
surface. and. in fact. man observations
have led TO the conclusion that the earth.
temperature is perceptibly lower at &
sun spot maximum Chat IS shen ther'
are many and large spotsJ than at {
minimum.
But the difference Of temp mature Il
larger than the mere darkeuing eauses
by the spots would accoun: for. ami )
is thought that the presence Of she spot
causes some change in the SUMS radia
ton OF heat. over and above that due u
the relative GOODNESS Of tn, spnts.
Then, independently perhaps Of tn
spots. there are changes Of the sun
radiation in periods of several days. o
Of several months. which cause huctus
ton Of temperature amounting TO from
10 10 per cent Of the whole. 1t is mani