Evening star., 1925-06-21
STUDY OF SUN AIDS
WEATHER FORECAST
Smithsonian Scientists Hope
to Increase DependabiIity
of Observations.
BY the Associated Press.

The heat of the sun has a proven
relation not only e changes in the
earth's temperature, but to the varia
tions in weather conditions in general
Smithsonian Institution scientists
have decided after experiments cover
Ing long period. To increase the de
pendability of their observations, the
experts hope to established within a
few years stations in various parts of
the world where data can be gathered
Through a series of papers dealing
with experiments of it's astrophysical
observatory, the institution says IRE.
searches give clear proof of a connec-
ton between solar variations and
weather changes, but show that the
relation Is a complex one"
Question Undetermined.
Whether recent abnormal aspects of
worldwide weather have been caused
by solar conditions cannot be deter
mined, because extended records of
the past history of solar radiation are
lacking.
DIR. c. G.. Abbot, assistant secretary
of the institution and the director of
the aStrophysical observatory, says
that not only does the heat received
by the earth from the sun appear vari-
able. but that the changes can be pre-
dicted nearly a week in advance by
looking at the sun through a tele-
scope.
H. H. Clayton, who for several years
was official forecaster of Argentina
and recently has been collaborating
with DIR. Abbot through study of the
sun. has predicted with what the in
Stitution asserts is very fair accuracy,
the actual daily temperatures of New
York City nearly a week in advance
for more than a year.
hn no
conducted from two observatories, one
at Mount Harqua Hala, AriZ., and the
other near Calama. in the nitrate
desert of Chile. Both are In high, arid
locations. To increase the accuracy
of the observations improvements are
being planned for the Chile station
while the Arizona observatory Is to be
moved to higher location on Table
Mountain. California, near Los An
geles.
Where Stations Are Needed.
Stations in the Eastern Hemisphere
are needed and DR.. Abbot will go to
Asia this Fall and with funds supplied
by the National Geographic Society
seek a desirable location for an OBJ
servatory with Beluchistan as his first
objective. Later he will go to South
west Africa in search of a probable
site for an observatory there.
Since 1922, researches have been
conducted under the most unusual
solar conditions known to modern sci
ence through a marked long continued
low period in the amount of heat
thrown out by the sun. Whereas the
normal has been established as 1874
calories per square centimeter per
minute, this value, known as the solar
constant, since 1922 has been as low
as 1.90, or 2 per cent below normal.
At present 1t is 1.93 and showing a
tendency to rise. The phenomenal
drop was first announced by DR.. Alb
bot in April, 1923. and he then an
nounced that departures of some sort
from normal weather conditions might
be expected.
Changes Affect Barometer.
Mr.. Clayton says that changes in
the suns heat almost Immediately af
feet the barometer and the thermome
ter in Western Canada and Western
United States, perhaps as a reaction
from the tropical atmosphere, travel
ing with the velocity of sound The
atmospheric waves thus set up drift
slowly south and east. and three days
later are observable at New York
City. Strangely enough it has been
shown that it is not an increase, but
decrease of solar heating that makes
it warmer In the East.