The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-05-19
SUN SpOTSFALSE
WEATHER ohENs
New System Of Long Range Fore
casting Declared FalIacious
BY Government Bureau.
EXPERTS SCOUT DISCOVERY
Theory Has Been investigated by
Scientists Of international Reputa-
ton and All Agree That Il
Has No Value.

United States weather bureau stated
recently. says the Weekly News Let
ter Of the United States department of
agriculture. that in the opinion Of the
bureau new system of long range
weather forecasting, which has been
widely discussed. was quite fallacious.
The new system is said TO be based on
the spottedness Of the sun and riffs
and shafts Of solar radiation. In the
opinion Of the weather bureau 1t be-
longs in the same class with other
methods of long range weather fore
casting based on lunar. planetary.
magnetic and astrological considera-
TONS None Of these systems. It is
said. has any scientific value.
During the last few years the wealth.
er bureau has received full specifica-
tons concerning all the essential de-
tails Of this particular system. The al.
legged discovery Is, therefore. fully
known to the weather bureau, and has
been carefully studied and examined
by Its scientific stan. Moreover. other
scientists of international reputation
now connected with the strongest in.
stitutions OF the world engaged In as
Economical research and conducting
investigations into solar and terres
trial physics. have also passed upon
these new theories. These authorities
are In accord that the deductions and
conclusions drawn from the solar con.
ditions on which the new system h
based are unwarranted.
When the disk of the sun is minute
1y examined with powerful telescopes,
or when It is photographed with the
aid OF the modern spectroheliograph,
the surface presents characteristic
spotted appearance which undergoes
slight changes from day to day, s1u
greater changes with longer intervale
of time. depending upon the well
known rotation of the sun upon its axis
and the periodic recurrence of the sun
spot maxima and minima. These and
certain well-known related phenomens
are now put forward as the basis OF Q
new science which will make possible
forecasts Of the weather far in ad
vance. That these features of solaI
activity, however, actually should con
troll and determine the daily changes
and sequence of weather conditions in
any definite or direct and consequen
tiai manner Is regarded by the govern
nent scientists as quite impossible
Solar phenomena Of the kind described
do not have any direct influence upor
the weather at any particular time ant
place, and cannot be made the basis O
any forecasts whatsoever.
The alleged discovery Is regarded al
only one OF number Of similal
schemes which are continually being
put forward. In some cases the advo
Gates Of these schemes assert tha
they can forecast the weather fol
weeks or months in advance, and II
others they state that they have founC
means Of producing rain arti6cially, o
preventing hail, and in other ways o
interfering with and controlling at
mospheric phenomena. These pre-
tensions meet with certain credence
because there are a number Of persons
who still cling to the ancient belief II
the influence OF the moon on tn,
growth and development Of crops, ant
to the idea that the weather condi
tons depend upon planetary and astro
logical combinations. In consequence,
the weather bureau has been called up
on from time to time to caution thu
general public against putting faith Il
these so-called discoveries.
The weather bureau itself is the au
thorized agency of the government I,
collect meteorological observation
and make and issue weather forecast
and warnings. Every important natiol
of the world has similar organiza
tion. and all use essentially the sam,
methods. All of these organization
condemn and disprove the method
and theories of those who assert tina
they are able to predict the weathe
for any considerable period in advance