New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28

decreases. Compared TO the total
amount Of radiated solar energy these
! fluctuations are minute, but still are
sufficiently operative TO affect the earth,
! and, in fact, all planets, in some de-
I gree. Sun spots and comets are not
I the cause Of these fluctuations OF en-
ergy constant, but are manifestations
OF Il, or results lowing from It.
Every navigator knows that the
/ earth spins on its axis and rolls on its
/ yearly orbit through the effect on II
! Of solar dynamic energy, transmitted
/ 10 il through space from the sun. rms
energy is manifest In many forms, as
centripetal and centrifugal force, as
J kinetlc repulsion and grayitational a..
+ traction. as light and heat, as natural
/ electrical and magnetic force. and, IN
| fact, as all forms Of force and motion.
| II is the cause OF the seasonal winds,
| the Trades, the Northwesterlies, the
Antarctic stehdfast, the various cur
rents in the ocean and in the air. and
the movement OF cyclonic and anti-ey-
clonic areas. II is even the cause OF
the daily earth tide, in which the solid
surface OF the earth rises and falls
twelve inches daily.
In this circulRtory system OF energy
the earth, through aeons Of time, has
adjusted itself 70 certain constants.
These constants are not fixed, but are
subject TO variation, depending on the
position Of the solar system in It's orbit
in the universe, Of the position of the
earth with regard 20 the sun, The posi-
ton Of the earth with regard 10 the
moon and the sun combined and the
minor effects OF the positions Of the
planets. We might regard the earth
as one Of the cogs OF the solar system
machine, physically affected by ,he po-
sition Of every other planetary cog.
with regard 10 the transmission Of
solar energy.
Let us put il another way. Assume
the sun TO be tremendous dynamic
machine. transmitting through space its
electro magnetic energy 20 every phys
icsl body in its system. To this energy
every planet in time would become
adjusted and the movement OF every
particle Of matter composing such
planet would be in harmony with the
dynamic rhythm OF the sun. n into
this nicely balanced mechanical adjust
ment of the various manifestations OF
primal solar energy there be suddenly
injected an abnormal factor, such. for
instance, as vagTsnt planet uneH
pectedly drawn within the solar system
and rushing madly toward the sun, II
/ is easily understood that the perfect
| balance Of forces would be disrupted.
But we do not need to have va
grant solid planet do such a striking
[ thing TO see that the same results
could be produced by other conditions
of disturbance, such as abrupt and UNI
usual storms Of sun spots or, most i'm
/ portant factor Of all, stream Of com
cts passing in succession through the
solar system around the sun and con-
paratively near the earth. Such a
stream Of comets has been passing
since May, 1909, and they have upset
the earth very much; not by physical
contact. but by the effect Of their pas
sage on the constant Of solar dynamic
force.
EARTH's RUSH THROUGH SPACE.
Before considering these factors let
US consider the earth itself and ITS
manner Of passage through space. II IS
not the solid surface OF the earth that
rushes through space, but the outer
circumsphere OF the earth's atmos.
phere. The atmosphere is sort OF
spherical, aerial tire for the earth and
its density appears to decrease IN pro
portion to It's height from the surface
of the earth. II this is true, the outer
she'll Of the atmosphere or the carth
that actually revolves i'm contact with
the "ether' and which moves forward
through it, must be very diffuse and
thin II the proportion OF decrease m
pressure as altitude increases IS con-
tinuous.
Whether this he the case. or that
there are reversing layers in the air,
50 that the pressure and density OF air
on the circumsphere of the atmosphere
l. greater than on the surface OF the
earth. it is quite apparent that every
imrgct OF energy external TO the earlh
must reach il through its atmosphere.
No matter now light and tenuous the
body OF comet may be, It must be
heavier and more dense than the
"ether" it passes through Otherwise
.hc comet head would be dissipated BY
he resistance offered.
Such being the case, a comet rushing
At great speed through the ether"
would set up waves Of force in the
"cther" precisely as vessel under way
sets I'D 2 back wash. These waves
would move forward through space to
infnity unless they met with some re-
sistance. But the outer circumsphere
OF the earth's atmosphere does offer
such resistance, and hence such parts
OF these comet-eXcited energy waves
is break on the outer shell OF the
earth's atmosphere must transmit to
the mundane cir part Of their energy,
much the same as wireless waves i'm
part 10 the receiving apparatus such
energy as is contained in the fraction
of the wireless waves interrupted by
the apparatus.
This intercepted, irregular energy
movement communicated to the stmos
phere Of the earth can only come TO
qu;etude by eyhausting its momentum.
4 This it does in the various layers of the
atmosphere, following the curve Of it,
original impact, and thereby setting up
stress OF wind and variation Of baro-
n-etric pressure, the result Of which
is storm and variation Of temperature
at the earth's surface level.
4 vessel under free way moves for
ward ahead on her course. falls off to
loeward and sets up following sue
ton wave, or back wash. The leeway
is caused By wind and tidal set, which,
OF course. are cfect5 OF energy in the
air and sea. A comet freely MOVING
IL space would set up in the "ethcr'
similar set of motions. Going away
from the sun. toward sphelion. the tell
o. a comet streams cut ahead on the
lire of Roadway; the falling on to lee
ward would be represented by the
curve Of the comets orbit, the back
wash by the "ether" waves set in mo-
tion By the physical passage OF the
comet through the solar system.
ENERGY IN TAIL" OF 4 COMET.
/ think ! have proved, in series
of scientific articles of easy access, that
tie so-called tail" Of a comet il really
solar energy processed or recessed il