Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-24

adjutor. Prof. n. n. Clayton, meas.
urtng the heat Of sunspots and
attrtbuting the weather to the con-
troll or modification OF those sun
spots, and with the United States
Weather Bureau winding up its
thermometer and barometer without
any regard whatever to the sun
climate, it is growing more and more
confusing to the layman.
The Smithsonians have the facts
the record of the years since they
began to measure the temperature
Of the sun in 1919-and note how
the passage Of many spots across
the center diameter of the sun has
been invariably followed next day
by cooler weather on earth, and q
day or two later by increased heat.
They find that the sunspots have
caused a variation in the suns heat
amounting to 2 per cent or even
more, and as it is possible to note
those spots as they slowly pass with
the revolution of the sun upon its
axis, 1t is possible to know. several
days ahead, exactly when they will
cross that center diameter; hence,
meteorologists could compute, week
or longer ahead, what the weather
is going to be. But the meteorologists
fail to accept the spot theory or to
note the deadly parallel Of the Clay
ton-Abbot lines upon the charts
covering the last six years, with
the line of weather records for the
same period.
Have they not discarded all other
demonstrations equally simple, such
as noting the thickness of fur on
wild animals and the abundance OF
nuts hidden by squirrels in the Fall,
as indications of a hard Winter?
The fact is that the Abbot-Clay-
ton sunspot idea does not rest on
such long-range forecasting Of sea-
sons. Nor does it rest upon the
idea that per cent decrease or in
crease in the suns heat will be
answered by direct equal variation
on earth. DR.. Abbot explains freely
that the earth's temperature is in
fiuenced by it's barometrical pres
sures and resultant winds If the
wind is from the south, we are go
ing to have warmer weather; If from
the north, colder.
But what changes the direction of
the wind? 1t may be that when the
sun Grows even 2 degrees colder,
by reason of the passage of many
spots across its axis, the difference
may change the air currents upon
earth, and by cooling the air. in one
zone, it may cause warmeS AIR TO
flow to replace that cooleE AR and
thereby warm up that regton-for
does not the weather proverb. ap-
proved by scientists, tell us that to
make the weather warmer we must
cool the air, which will then con-
tract and let in a flood Of the sur
rounding warm air?
If that does not make everything
clear as to last Wednesdays and
Thursdays heat-it is quite too warm
to argue about 1t. Besides, the
Weather Bureau announced last Sat
urday: North and Middle States
Mostly fair weather Monday and
Tuesday, but local thundershowers
are probable the middle or latter part
of the week. Somewhat cooler Mon
day, but temperature will likely aver
age above normal during the week.
Didn't they tell you so? Definite
just like that!
DR.. Abbot relates a parable in re
ply to his critics who refute all nus
observed facts by protesting tnat
they cannot be true, since they con
trxldict scientific averages. he tells
a critic to observe a. certain held In
which there are very tall OBJECTS.
The critic refers TO his record and
finds that the average height Oh
growth on that field is inches, but
DIR. Abbot retorts, There are now
ering shrubs there at least or
feet high and trees at least 40 feet
high"
II regret to differ with you," an
swers the critic, but am sure my
averages are right, and so the mathe-
raaffCS ara against YOU"
"But really, SIR" replies the doctor,
"the Washington Monument Is In
that field. The fact that there are
also 1900, 900 blades of grass there
cannot shorten it any, though it
brings down your average to 4
inches"
tcopyrighA 1920. by Paul v. COlans.)