The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-05-21
NeyuAa;
Scientific
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SUNDAY, MAY Il. Iszz.

GREAT GAS UPHEANALs
ON THE SUN.
Sudden upheavsls OF vast Quanti-
ties OF incandescent gases Of many
elements from the surface of the
sun are a regular feature OF solor
activity. Though the height at
tanned by these eruptions usually
ranges between 10000 and zoe. 900
miles there are exceptional prom
inences that occasionally reach an
elevation of half a million miles or
more.
0 Arecord-breaklng prominence that
appeared on October 9. 1920, at
which is considerably more than
half OF the diameter Of the sun.
This prominence rose slowly at first
. from the surface until the connec-
ton with the base was partially
severed Its velocity then changed
suddenly to a much higher value
and this velocity was maintained
until a complete break with the
Base took place when there was a
second sudden Increase in velocity.
The motions OF various portions OF
the prominence were extremely
, complex. Part Of the material re-
turned TO the sun and part became
attracted. apparently. 20 points be-
( yond.
: Though eruptive prominences are
Z frequently associated with sun
( spots they are not essentially 50
and this prominece was apparently
an Isolated phenomenon. In this
prominence as in many others that
attain exceptionally high attitudes
calcium gas was one OF the chief
/ elements.
A solar prominence observed at
the Kodaiksnal Observatory in In
dia on May IS. 1916 also attained
an. altitude OF more than half
| million miles In this case a high
column Of gas accompanied by fall
ing streamers shot up suddenly
| from the surface with an acceler-
stsd velocity that attained NAV
! imum value OF 2s3 miles per seco~d
< velocity Of one hundred miles
more per second would free Il en-
tirely from the control OF the sun
Within an hour the upper part 81
this prominence had become seps-
rated from the base and faded
rapidly away.
The cause Of these solar erIp-
I tions is not clearly understood. but
it is possible that they are pro-
duced by sudden release n
| subatomic energy beneath the sur
face Of the sun. II is a peculiar
fact. however. that these eruptions
never occur near the extren'ties ~
the SUMS axis Of rotation. that is.
near its poles.
Electrostatic forces may act in
some manner in the production ~
the accelerated motion that is al
ways observed and in the separa-
4 tion Of the column from the suns
surface but in exactly what way is
not evident.
There may also be some connec-
ton between prominences and the
solar corona. hut a solution Of IN"
problem Is complicated by the fact
that the solar corona can only be
I observed during the few fleeing
moments OF a total solar eclipse.
Solar prominences. however. can be
; observed in broad daylight in all
their details by means of the spec
troscope which serves TO reduce the
brightness Of the background due
to the scattering Of sunlight by the
out and weakening Il while leaving
und minished in intensity the liCht
Of the prominences which is com
posed Of single colors.-By Isabel
NJ. Lewis. Of the L. S. Naval OBJ
servatory.
The army's largest airship since
the Roma disaster is Of the nom
rigid type. with $4,000 cubic feet
capacity. 10 feet long. IS feet d.
ameter. so miles per hour speed
and can carry a crew OF eight.
The greatest breedinc ground
for water fowl in the United states
is in the State OF Nebraska.
Jimson weed which has spread
all over the Eastern United States
was introduced from the old world
at Jamestown. Va. in the early
colonial days. Hence IL was called
jamestown weed. which was lster|
shortened to Jimson.
W. d.