The daily sentinel., 1913-01-21
PROBLEM OF SUNS
HEAT NOW SOLVED
Sentinel Special Service.

Senllnel Speclai service.
Washington, ID. c., Jan. 2l.-That
another cold snap may never come to
southern California without n warn
ing of days and perhaps months is
the probable result of the further ex-
periments made during the last fis-
cal year by the Smithsonian institu-
tion to determine the truth or fallacy
of the ancient theory that the sun
gives out at all times fixed guam
tity of heat.
For long series of tests made at
Mount Wilson, Mount Whitney,
Washington, and other points by
Prof. C. G.. Abbot. director of the
Smithsonian astrophysical observato-
ry, it has been practically demon
strated that the suns output of ra-
diation varies from day 10 day in n
manner irregular in period and guam
tity. but roughly running its course
within periods of five or ten days in
time and 3 to TO per cent in volume.
The Importance of this conclusion
to humanity and commerce can hard
ly be estimated. 1t means that with
further research, il will doubtless be
possible to determine the regularity
of the changing periods of solar heat
distribution and coupling this with
the suns distance from the earth
and terrestrial atmospheric condi-
tions, the accurate prediction of the
earth's weather conditions for long
periods in advance will follow.
Although Professor Abbot hest
tates to speak of the results which
may follow his researches, it is
known that the goal he is working
to reach is not the mere satisfaction
of exploding an old theory. but to
bring about results which will be far
reaching in practical commercial i'm
portance.
Professor Abbot has determined
that the suns radiation comes from
temperatures between the limits of
5000 and 1000 degrees centigrade,
but mostly from sources between g.
900 and 1000 degrees. For the epoch
19O5-l910, further research has con-
firmed the conclusion reached last
year that the mean value of solar ra-
diations was 1922 calories per
square centimeter per minute. As
compared with this average, the va
riations shown at Mount Wilson and
Mount Whitney during tests made in
1909 and 1910 We're as follows:
Mount Wilson
September 8, 1909..........1.943
August ~, 1910. ......... ,945
August IA, 1910. ,904
Mount Whitney
September 3, 1903. $50
August 12. 1910. ,979I
August 13, 1910. ,933
August IA, 1910. .......... ,956
The main purpose OF the Mount
Whitney expedition of 1910 was to
test whether the determinations of
solar radiation were affected by the
of the observing station. 1t
was demonstrated that difference in
between sea level and three
miles were immaterial, thus doing
away with the objection that the
in the suns radiation
might be due to faulty estimates of
the loss of radiation in the air.
In connection with the study of
solar radiation, observations were
continued at Mount Washington.
Mount Whitney and Washington on
the transmission of radiation through |
long columns of air containing
known quantities of water vapor. |
Professor Abbot remarks that the re-
suits are not ready for publication, |
but it is declared that they are ex-
tremely interesting and will probab- /
Iy lead to a more exact knowledge of |
the total quantity of water vapor in |
the atmosphere, and its variation /
with latitude and season of the |
year.