New Britain herald., 1920-03-23

through glass. tubes and globes. from which the air has been partially ex- hausted. In these experiments the physicist reproduces not only the forms, but also the colors of the au- rora. and it will be of interest to state that with a moderate vacuum the colors are of a rosy tint, grad ually fading into blue. green, and finally white, as the more air is re- moved and rarer vacuum obtained. In this fact it is easy to find q pos sible explanation of the varying col ors during an auroral display.
 Produce Rosy Tints.
 In all probability the discharges in the nearer layers of the atmos- phere are the ones that produce the rosy tints, with the blue, green and white appearing as the discharges take place in the layers of rarer at mospherc above. If this explanation is correct. one may easily infer, from the variety of colors of the aurora, as was observed last evening, that the disturbance is more extended, embracing the upper and rarer re- gions of the atmosphere as well as those nearer the earth. Many at tempts have been made to estimate the height of the auroral displays above the earth's surface, but they have not been satfsfac actory. The pre- Vailing opinion at present is that the more brilliant displays are not very far away. They are probably, however, from 20 to 250 miles dis tant. The great variety of forms which these displays take is due not so much to the shape of the luminous masses as to perspective.
 Followed By Weather Changes.
 Rema rkable displays of the auro- ra are usually followed by marked changes in the weather commonly lower temperature. though this is not always the case. It should not be inferred, however, that the au- rora is the cause of these atmos- pherc changes: it is more likely to be the effect rather than the cause. We are deceived by the fact that we see the aurora, the first effect of at mospheric disturbances, before the second effects in the change of weather reach us.
 Affects Telegraph Wires.
 The electric effect of the northern lights were felt here. There was more or less trouble yesterday from shortly before . to after 10:30 in the evening. While the telephone lines were not affected Tn any manner, the telegraph wires were held up at least 12 times, from one or two-minute periods, to a maximum period of II minutes.
 Electrical experts here explain the trouble as caused by earth currents, fiuctuating from positive to negat tive battery vice versa, in this way counteracting the current and causing the lines to go dead. Another eX- pert puts it that it is caused by at mospheric electricity getting on the line and opposing the battery.
 The Western Union reported a lit tie trouble while the Postal Tele- graph was slightly bothered on the wires running east and west. The most trouble was between here and Boston. The United Electric Light company reported no interference with it's service. and no trouble of any kind.
 There was no trouble on the tele- phone toll lines it being explained that ali telephone lines carry two wires 10 make the circuit while tele- graph lines have but one wire the circuit being formed ny the wires be- ing grounded.
 Wires Affected.
 New York, March 23.--Aurora