New Britain herald., 1930-09-11
MARCONI OUTLINES
 RADIO WAVE IDEA
Sounds Travel Millions of Miles
 Beyond Atmospheric Layer

4lSheo Alolyt DSPt' Marchese Guglielmo Marconi, in- ventor of wireless telegraphy, in the inaugural address at the second meeting of the Italian Society for Advancement, of Science today, ex- pressed belief that radio waves may travel long distances, even millions of miles beyond the earth's atmos- pheric alyer.
 He said that he did not see any reason why, as some scientists main- tain, waves produced on the earth should not travel such a distance. since light and heat waves reach us from the sun, penetrating the atmos- pheric layer.
 He referred to the observations of such scientists as Stormer and Peder- sen, and commented that the former electrified particles derived from the sun and under the magnetic influence of the earth acted as a reflector of electric waves from the earth after they had passed the so called heavi- side and Kenelly layer.
 Later in his address he said that the waves were reflected by bands of ions outside the magnetic field of the earth, sometimes at a distance from the earth of 25,o00,000 miles-the observations of Hals indicating dis tances up to 4s,000,O00 miles.
 The existence of various reflecting layers" he said, lis the best hypo- thesis on which to base an explana- t3on of long distance wave transmits sion which overcomes the curve of the earth. Layers capable of re- fecting electric waves exist at heights varying with the hour of the day and the season of the year. These layers also are influenced by the effects of light, by electric and magnetic activity of the sun, and by other causes yet unknown.
 Influences Variations
 "The influence of these layers on the propagation of electric waves explains the variations observed in the waves intensity and travelling distance accordingly as they travel through the illuminated or dark zones. This again would point to the capital importance of the season and of the hour for determining what waves are most suited to radio trans missions.
 Radio engineers should therefore keep in touch with the work of me- teorologists and astronomers, but it Is equally useful for the latter to Keep in touch with the former, ow- Ing to the powerful means which modern developments have placed at the disposal of radio stations"
 The Marchese Marconi said that because of these refecting layers the angle of transmission in respect to the surface of tho earth is of great Importance. He hinted at the possi- bility of electric exploration of space. Speaking of the new under-ten- meters. short wave radio stations operating between Italy and Sardinia he said that these waves would seem to be reflected and contained in space between the surface of the earth and a layer much lower than the heaviside layer. while other ob- servations made with short waves dUoFo lcl IIftleTS WOulQ seem to show that these waves are 1fot con- fined to limited space near the earth.
 Analyzes Progress
 The inventor analysed the progress Tn radio communication obtained by means of short waves and the beam system. and he pointed out that oual- ities of short waves have been studied and demonstrated by him since 1915. Owing to the usefulness Of these waves, he said, powerful organizations, owning more than 50 per cent of the worlds cables. had been obliged to come to terms with the Marconi company.
 The Marchese Marconi said that wireless echoes were among the most fascinating of phenomena, capable Of disclosing the most useful facts. He divided echoes into classes ac cording as they indicate that electric waves have covered distances before returning to us in the form of echoes shorter or longer than the circum ference of the earth.