Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1916-04-04
SAYS new SYSTEM
is FALLACIoUS ONE
Weather Bureau Warns Aga
inst Long Range Forecasts.

Washington, April 4.-The chief
Of the United States Weather Bureau
states that in the opinion of the bu-
reau a new system of long.range
weather foreeasting, which has been
widely discussed recently, is quite
fallacious. The new system is said
to be based on the sun and riffs
and shafts OF solar radiation. In the
opinion of the weather bureau fore
casting based on lunar planetary.
magnetic and astrological considera-
tons. None of these systems, it is
said has any scientific value.
During the past few years the
weather bureau has received fun
specifications concerning all the
essential details OF this particular
system. The alleged discovery is.
therefore fully known to the wealth
er b1~eau and has been carefully
stdded and examined by its scien.
tifc staff. Moreover, other scientists
OF international reputation now con
nected with the strongest institutions
of the world engaged in Astronomical
research. and conducting inqestiga-
tons into solar and terrestrial phys
les, have also passed upon these the
Dries. These authorities are in &C
cord that the deductions and con
clusions drawn from the solar condi-
tons on which the new system is
based are unwarranted.
When the disk Of the sun in min
utely examined with powerful tele-
scopes, Of which It is photographed
with the aid Of the modern spectre
hellographp the surface present
characteristic spotted appearance
(which undergoes slight changes
from day to day and greater changes
with longer intervals Of time, de-
pending upon the we'll known rota-
ton of the sun upon its axis and the
periodic recurrence of the sunspot
maxima and minima These and Ger
tain well-known related phenomena
are now put forward as the basis
Of a new science which will make
possible forecasts of the weather far
in advance. That these features of SO
lar activity however, actually should
control ana determine the daily
changes and sequence Of weather con
ditions in any definite Or direct and
consequential manner. is regarded
by the government as quite impos-
sible Solar phenomena OF the kind
described do not have any direct in
fuence upon the weather at any par
t!cular time and place. and can not
be made the basis OF any forecasts
whatsoever
The alleged discovery is regarded
as only one OF number Of similar
schemes which are continually being
put forward. In some cases the adj
vocates OF these schemes assert that
they can forecast the weather for
weeks or months in advance and in
others they state that they have
found means OF producing rain arti-
dciaIly OF preventing Fail, and in
other ways Of interfering with and
controlling atmospheric phenomena.
These pretensions meet with GER
tain credence because there are a
number OF people who still cling to
the ancient belief in the influence Of
the moon on the growth ard devel-
opment Of crops. and to the idea
that the weather conditions depend
upon planetary and astrological com
binations. In consequence the wealth
er bureau has been called upon
from time 10 time to caution tho gen
eral public against putting faith in
these so-called discoveries.
The Uaitod States Weather Bu-
reau Itself is the authorized agency
OF the government TO collect metero-