The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-05-17

SunSpotS, Atmospheric Con-
ditionS and Radiation Dis
cuSSed by Scientists,
BY HARRY E. HUNT
NEA Service Writer

wv ASHINGTON, May Ire
w markable weather, this spring
isn't it? very unusual! Like
to know what's causing it? Well
THE temperature of the earth de
ponds upon the heat we receive from
the sun" says DR.. Charles Greeley
Abbot, assistant secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution and director
of the Astrophysical Observatory.
For several years the suns heat
had not huctuated much until No.
vember, 1921 when the monthly val
ues began to decrease. BY October,
1922, the values reached a level 3
per cent lower than before the de
crease commenced. Since then they
have continued on this low level
That Freak Weather
How about it2" I asked DR. Charles
r. Marvin, chief Of the United States
Weather Bureau, citing DR. Abbot &
observations. rs the sun cooling off?
Is that responsible for this freak
weather."
rs the weather due to the apparent
variation in solar radiation. or is the
seeming variation in solar radiation
due to the weather.
Marvin continued, drawing from his
desk bunch of intricate graphs and
charts. L am not yet ready to accept
the theory of variation in solar radia-
ton as basis for weather forecasting
Measuring the suns heat is a very
difficult task. Many atmospheric con
ditons, clouds dust etc, tend to dis
tub the accuracy of the measure
ments. But look at these charts
running back over many years. They
indicate that as the methods for meas
uIfng solar radiation have improved
and as better equipment and better
stations for observation have been OBJ
tanned, the apparent variability Of the
suns heat has diminished
Effect Of Eruption
FOLLOWING the eruption Of Katalni
In the AIeutian Islands few years
ago. the variation in apparent solar
radiation was so great that readings
finally were discontinued. Volcanic
dust mounted high into the air-far
above the level TO which any moisture
ascends. Observations taken by the
Smithsonian Institution i'm Aleeria
showed the presence Of the volcanic
dust even there-haf way round the
earth This volcanic dust sometimes
remains in the upper atmosphere for
two or three years, and, of course, is
an element In affecting the passage Of
the suns rays.
Well we suggested, how about
sunspots2 Maybe they're TO blame Tor
the weather Maybe they'll give us
another year like 1916, when there
were frosts all summer"
"Ah-h- h. said Marvin. apparently
seeming another unpopular weather
bugaboo. "sunspotsl
We'll. in 1s15-which is known as
the year without a summer--we were
In a period OF maximum sunspots. The
old sun was pretty well spotted that
year. Therefore. many have said, the
cold summer.
This year we are in a period Of
sunspot minimum. IF we say the sun
spot maximum IN 1916 caused the cold
Of that year. and now say this years
cold is due 10 "a sunspot minimum, we
are attributinz exactly the same result
to exactly opposite causes.
My advice to the pubIc-particu-
larly to farmers and others whose
activities are directly affected by the
weather-is. don't worry. The sun
isn't going to grow cold on us right
away. Neither are its spots or lack
OF spots ukelN 10 affect US seriously q"
rs is to be a hot or cold summer
I asked
NO one knows, and there is no way
10 tell" DIR. Marvin replied.
The weather depends on the
weather.