Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-02-09
AURORA BoREALlS STILL =
PUZZLE.
North Lights as Much Mystery to
Modern Scientists as They Were IN
Frankin's Day.

One hundred years after Benjamin
Franklin. the aurora borealis is as
great a cause for discussion among
scientists as ever. And, apparently,
We are no nearer the solution of the
great. big why" that surrounds the
whole subject of the magnet and its
relations to luminous manifestations
than a century ago.
Franklin's theory of the aurora was
that it is due to electric discharges
in the upper air in consequence OF the
differing electrical conditions between
the cold air of the polar regions ana
the warmer streams of air and Vapor
raised from the level of the ocean IN
tropical regions by the heat OF the
sun.
This will, no doubt, says a British
scientist in an interesting paper, be
proved to be the correct one, when
all the other missing links which now
connect the aurora with the periodic
eleven-year magnetic storms, the di-
urnal magnetic variations. the sun
spots in the suns photosphere and the
production of its luminous streamers
have been explained.
Now, the earth, as is we'll known, is
one vast magnet 1t possesses guam
tity of inherent magnetism due to its
vast deposits of feebly magnetic iron
ore and the actively magnetic mag
netite" or almost pure ore that has
undergone crystallization, and there
fore retains some of this energy in
the form of magnetism.
The earth being round, it is the
poorest possible shape for a magnet.
and might have its poles almost any
where were it not for the diurnal re-
tation constantly producing electrical
influences, which, in a general way,
yield currents moving northeasterly
and southwesterly, the same as the
trade winds and the prevailing climatic
breezes.
This places the magnetic poles
where they are-the north pole not at
the true north but 1000 miles to the
southwest on Bothia f'eiiz Island, 20
degrees north latitude by 90 degrees
west longitude. The south magnet
pole has not yet been located, but there
appear to be two points for maximum
egress of the magnetic lines of force
III the south polar regions, as the COM
pass indicates such to be a fact. The
exact line of the magnetic current is
probably as much influenced by the
redistribution of available masses of
iron in the earths interior as in the in
ductive electric effects OF aerial cur
rents.
Be that as it may, the surface of the
earth is one vast air gap between the
north and south magnetic poles, as
may be proved by any one by simply
holding a compass in the hand. 1t i'm
mediately takes a position pointing
toward the north magnetic pole, so
therefore it must be in the path of
some magnetic current traversing the
air on the earth surface.
Now let us examine a few facts con-
Meeting the aurora borealis with the
magnetic phenomena of the earth.
First the aurora always is seen with
the center of it's arch directly over the
magnetic pole. Large ones that have
beep big enough to be seen in numer-
Gus places at the same time prove that
the display encircles the magnetic
pole.
For instance. the great aurora of
September 8, 1889, was seen in the Isle
of Skye, in Paris, at Asti in Italy, in
New Haven, Conn, and in New Or
leans, La. These observations cover
nearly one half of the polar circle, and
investigation Of the Chinese records
probably would complete the circle
g. The appearance of brilliant au-
lvoral displays always accompanies
magnetic storms, affecting compass
needles and telegraph lines all over
the world
g. The aurora appears with exceed
ing brilliancy and frequency in eleven
and one half year periods correspond
ing to the maximum cycles Of magnet
ic storms and sun spots, and every
large aurora comedies with the storms
on the SUMS surface in which the lat
ter is torn by huge sun spots, which
spots are believed to be tremendous
upheavals in the incandescent film
surrounding the SUM-
The aurora begins with a dingy as
pect of the sky in the general direc-
ton of north. This gets darker and
forms itself into an arc over the mag
netic pole. 1t is called the dark seq
ment," and looks like thick cloud
if seen before dark.
AS night comes on the stars can cas-
| lily be seen shining through It., SO it
cannot be very dense. Soon appears a
luminous blush arc surrounding the
dark segment, which lasts for several
| hours, waving uncertainty about with
its lower edge only sharply defined.
Thi. -. ID folIovv@ed NV the foru-