Evening star., 1934-02-08
REPORT ON SETTLE
FLIGHT RECEIVED
Detailed Observations on
Stratosphere Trip Fur
nished by Scientists.

The first scientific report OF the
stratosphere fight of Comdr. T. G.
w. Settle on November 20, which sue
ceeded in attaining height of nearly
IL miles above the earths surface,
has Just been made to the National
Academy Of Sciences by the commit
tee in charge. headed by Dr. Arthur
H. Comptup OF the University of Chi
cago
Other reports will be made as the
scientists to whom the data was sub
mitted have an opportunity to ana
lyze it. The flight formed an impor-
tant part Of the worldwide cosmic
ray survey. which is being directed
by DR.. Compton, who reports that the
instruments recorded valuable data on
the number of these rays penetrating
the upper atmosphere and the ioniza-
tion-stripping atmospheric atoms of
their electrons-caused by them. On
the other hand. the rapid rotation of
the balloon made it impossible to OBJ
tain satisfactory data on the direction
from which they we're approaching
the earth. which was one of the vital
points to be determined.
Sky Colors Changed.
"The sky light at 90 degrees from
the sun was completely polarized
within an estimated limit of 5 per
cent" the report states. Close to the
horizon the sky was white. due to
haze and clouds. This shaded into
steel blue and then into a saffron
yellow, due, apparently, to light scat
tered from distant cirrus clouds and
traversing a long path through the
atmosphere. Above this deepest layer
CT cloudy or hazy air, the color shaded
rapidly through green to a deep blue
This blue showed no tinge of purple
or violet hue. These observations were
confirmed by use of a hand spectro-
scope
The temperature at the top of the
balloon in the stratosphere rose to
. centigrade, although the air tenn
perature was about SIS centigrade.
AS the sun came close to the horizon
the bag cooled rapidly. causing a de-
scent which attained a speed of l8
meters per second.
"Of physiological interest is the fact
that when the gondola was opened at
an elevation of 81 kilometers-where
there was less than one-third of an
atmosphere of pressure, none of the
symptoms of dizziness. nauseau and
fatigue familiar at high attitudes was
noticed. although both observers were
engaged in heavy physical labor.
Two explanations are apparent
first. the short period of exposure to
the low pressure because of the rapid
descent Of the balloon, and, second,
a possible high concentration of oxy-
gen in the gondola before the ports
were opened.
Radio Signals Clear.
1.-THE radio signals were transmitted
with surprising clarity on a wave
length of 1877 meters. Immediately
upon leaving the earth the oscillation
frequency of the transmitter changed
by about 80 per cent. due doubtless to
the change in capacity. Whereas
close to the ground almost 100 per
transmit satisfactory signals. at high
attitudes 80 per cent modulation was
sufficient"
Besides DR.. Compton and Comdr.
Settle, the following members of the
committee signed the report to the
National Academy: Luiz Alvarez H.
G. Gale, G. S. Monk and R. j.
Stephenson, University of Chicago;
C. L. Fordney, Marine Corps: G. F.
Smith, University of Illinois; F. C.
Meier, Department of Agriculture:
Prof. August Picard, University of
Brussels, and DR.. Jean Picard, his
brother. Prof. Picard made the first |
ascent in Europe two
years ago and his coming to the
United States had much to do with |
stimulating the Settle flight.