New Britain herald., 1922-07-11

the world, and may make long time
 nrognostications as usual and simple
 part Of weather mapping.
 After many years close observation
 and measurement of the heat radia-
 ton from the sun. scientists believe
 they are now near the goal. IL has
 been finally determined that the sun
 does not throw off continuous
 amount of heat, from year to year,
 from month to month and even from day to day that neither does the earth
 receive a constant amount of solar heat that these variations are periodic and regular according 10 several fac tors, primarily the suns rotation; and that there is a direct connection with the solar variation amid the earth's climate,
 The Institution. Dr. Abbot said, has set up apparatus for heat measuring al various stations around the world. from which have been computed end less tables Of figures by which the measurements showing solar varia- tions have been checked and proved
 While this work Is still going on with the view Of eoordinating the measurements with earthly weather conditions. daily observations of the solar constant" or radiation are be- station on Mount Montezuma, Chile, 10 the government bureaus of Arren- tina and Brazil where they are used regularly in forecasts Our own weather bureau. Dr. Abbot added is investigating the relations Of the more complicated weather conditions Of the United States to the radiation Of the sun, and with results which tend to raise the hope that here too the solar radiation values will be of interest and importance In weather forecast ing.
 The interesting question has often been brought up, according 10 the ar tlcle. as to whether the sun may be gradually losing its heat and declining toward a cold, dead condition How ever, he said, 1t is impossible to an swer the question other than to refer to the fac that crops raised in most ancient of historic times were sub stantially the same as those grown at present, so that there has at least been little decline within the last 5000 years. With the aid Of the Institu- tion's studies, which fix the measure ments within an error of only one per cent. scientists 1,oon years from now may be able to answer the question without doubt.
 When the hypothesis of the suns variations was first being worked out. it is said. very interesting method was used 10 check the observations t'sing photo-electric cell, Dr. Guth- nick, of the Berlin Observatory. meas ired the brightness Of the planet Sa- urn S compared with the star Reg llus. As Saturn shines with the re- lected light of the sun, 1t was de- clared. it must vary if the sln does These observations were compared with the studies of the suns bright ness IS made by the Smithsonian but he tables did not agree, although | both showed somewhat similar fluc.ii- ations over period of several months. The comparison, however, | vas made on the assumption of ,hanges on the sun being felt in all directions simultaneously, Dr. Abbott ;aid. When allowance was made for he rotation of the suns disc, which | S about 27 days. and for the fact | hat the rays which reached the earth | might sweep around one. two or three days before or after reaching Saturn, it was found that the latter was the true case. and the fuctua- ions accorded exactly.