The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-05-03
-Dietz on Science
MANY NATIONS
COOPERATE TO
STUDY STORMS
0bSerVatorieS Maintained in
Twenty Countries Over
World.
BY DAVID DIETZ
Scripps-Howard Science Editor


WASHINGTON. May 3.-How
twenty nations are cooperating in
scientific studies of the Arctic and
Antarctic regions in an attempt to
solve some Of the major mysteries
Of the earth was described here
recently at the opening session of
the American Geophysical Union by
DR.. j. A. Fleming, secretary of the
union and acting director of the
department of terrestrial magnetism
OF the Carnegie institution.
The cooperative venture is known
as the second polar year" and is
under the direction of an interna-
tional commission, of which DR..
Fleming is one of two American
| members.
Observations and Investigations Of
weather conditions, radio conditions.
auroral lights, fluctuations in the
earth's magnetism and electric cur
rents, atmospheric electricity and
cosmic rays, are being made at sew
eral hundred stations.
Scattered Over World
Many of these are in the far
north and far south, but others are
scattered throughout the world. in
the United States and Europe. on
Islands in the Pacific, and even the
equator
The reason for this is that data
collected in the polar regions is
ValuelesS unless correlated with
similar observations made simulta-
neously in all parts of the world.
Dr.. Fleming emphasized the CO.
operation being received from Soviet
Russia, which has established nine
ty-two special observing stations as
lts share in the program.
Meteorological studies will include
Investigations of the so-called polar
fronts" the frontiers of the polar
areas of cold air. Fluctuations in
the extent of the polar fronts" is
believed to influence the weather of
the rest of the world.
Study Storm Origin
The theory advanced by Professor
w. M. Hobbs of the University of
Michigan, that there are two great
cyclone factories, as he calls them
one over Greenland and one over
Anarctlca, where most of the great
oceanic storms originate, also will
be studied.
DR.. Hobbs has claimed from stud
les made in Greenland that it is
possible to foretell storms on the
North Atlantic two or three DAYS in
advance from the behavior of the
Greenland Cyclone factory"
Magnetic and electrical studies
may throw some light, it is hoped.
on two of the greatest mysteries
connected with the earth.
These, according to DR.. Fleming
are why the earth is a great magnet
and why the earth has a negative
electrical charge.
Explanation Is Lacking
"As yet, there are no adequate
explanations for these facts" he told
the writer According to all theo-
ries, the negative charge of the
earth ought to be dispelled into
space. But it remains nevertheless
DR.. Fleming said that the studies
ought to throw new light on mag
netlc storms and their origin. He
pointed out that the earth has a
uniform magnetic field over which
the fluctuating field is superim-
! posed.
Our earth is a great electrical
and magnetic harp, played upon bv
solar and cosmic forces" DR.. Elem
ing said.
We see the effect of these forces
i'll the auroral lights, the magnetic
storms, the changes in the electrical
conditions of the atmosphere. and
in the fluctuations in radio re-
ception."
Commission Is Aided
In addition to the appropriations
from various governments, the polar
year commission has been aided by
a grant of $4,000 from the Rookie
teiler Foundation for the purchase
OF special apparatus.
The present program is known as
the second polar year" because the
first cooperative venture of this
sort was tried in 1882
The program then, however, was
not so extensive.