Evening star., 1932-03-16
RADIO WAVES HELD
COSM|C RIDDLE KEY
Research Associate of Car
negie Institution Here
Sees Solution.

Solution of some of the great cosmic
riddles of the world" by the use of
radio waves was predicted by Prof.
Arthur E. Kennedy, research associate
of the Carnegie Institution of Wash
ington, speaking here last night.
1t is certain, he said, that some radio
phenomena are greatly effected by what
happens on the sun and there is reason
to believe that influences are at, work
much more remote than the sun. These
influences are reflected in the upper
atmosphere which can be explored by
radio waves.
Observations in recent years, said DR..
Kennedy, have shown that when brief
electrical impulses are sent out at a
radio sending station the invisible
broadcast wave. carrying the impulse
outward along the ground in all direc-
tionS, is closely followed by echoes
which come down from the sky. They
are due to the radio impulses bent
down, or seemingly reflected, from an
invisible layer in the upper atmosphere
which completely blankets the globe.
Caused by Sun Rays.
This invisible layer, which is seeming
ly almost impenetrable to the long
wave radiation, is caused by the intense
violet rays of the sun falling upon the
upper atmosphere. These break up the
air molecules into electrically positive
and negative parts. The result is
vast invisible cloud of electrically ac-
tive, ionized air which seals the earth.
The radio echoes from this cloud can
be photographed and recorded.
The apparent height of the ionized
laUpr pr0f KannaI1U cold ron ho found
from the delay of the echo behind the
ground wave. 1t varies from about
so miles to more than 800 miles, de-
pending on the wave length, the sea-
son and the time of day
1T is found from numerous records, I"
Prof. Kennedy said, that the apparent
height of the invisible cloud is related
to the strength of the long-distance
radio signals, such as those coming over
the Atlantic. The strength of the radio
signals, in turn, is found to be related
closely to the earth's magnetic ac-
tivity. and this in turn is related to
conditions on the surface of the sun, as
revealed by sunspotS."
Reasons Only Guessed.
The 11-year sunspot cycle, it was
pointed out, apparently is one of the
fundamental phenomena of nature.
Every IL years the sun seems to have
great outburst of energy. This effects
vitally a great deal that takes place
on the earth
"The reasons for the interconnection
OF these widely different phenomena, /"
Prof. Kennedy said, can only be
guessed as yet. The spots on the sur
face of the sun are found to be asso-
ciated with outpouring of ultraviolet
light 1nG this phonna ha n
and density of the invisible cloud in
the atmosphere.
This can effect radio signals and
somehow effects the earths magnetism.
Why the sun should have acquired the
habit of an eruptive cycle of about
IL years. still is mystery There may
be cosmic influence at work more re-
mote than the sun.
Radio waves of different lengths
respond differently to the ionized layer
in the sky.
Exploration Limited.
by carefully studying their behavior
it may be possible to learn much about
the nature and constitution OF the
upper air. At present our exploration
of this region is limited to about 80
kilometers. the height to which re-
cording instruments can be lifted by
sounding balloons. Radio waves can
be sent up to much greater heights
and be made to tell the story of what
happened on their journey by the con-
dition of the wave when it IS caught
on return.
by continued careful studies of ter
restrial magnetism. electricity and radio
waves, linked with astronomical OBJ
servations, we may well hope to find
the solution for the great cosmic rid
dies of our world"