The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-26
Todays Science
Lay DAVID DIETZ


0SCIILATING "centers of action shlttlng pack
~ and forth over the earth's surface IN keeping
with changes in the suns output OF neat coLCIoL
the earth's weather. Once the movements OF tneSe
centers are accurately known, long-range weather
forecasting will be simple matter
That is the thesis of H. Helm Clayton Gator OF
the World Weather Records published annually by
the Smithsonian Institution OF washington W.
CLAYTON sets forth his views in a paper just pre-
nared for the institution on World Weather ana
Solar Activity"
Mr. Clayton points out that if our earth had no
ATMOSPHERE the temperature OF the earth WouId
follow The suns output of heat in very simple way.
The hotter the sun became the hotter the eartn
would become. ;.--.... III,
But the earth is not body like the moon ~hlcn
possesses neither air nor water The earth mas an
atmosphere and oceans. The effect OF these must
be taken into consideration.
Measurements of solar radiation mace over
long period of years from the mountain-top obser-
vatory Of the Smithsonian Institution indicate that
as sun spots increase from minimum to Maximum
the sun grows slightly hotter
This fact is well in accord with what might be
expected stir up a furnace and it grows hotter
Undoubtedly the increase in sun spots is evidence
Of activity within the lower depths OF the sum-
HOWEVER, while the sun grows hotter as sun
i spots increase the temperature Of certain parts
of the world grows lower. The work Of both Smp-
son. the well-known British meteoroogist, and Clay
ton show that a moderate increase in solar radla-
ton brings decrease IN the average temperature
of considerable portion of the American continent,
This is mot quite so paradoxcal as 1t might
SEEM" Mr.. Clayton says. The temperature Of the
earth as q whole depends the amount Of heat
received from the sun, but the temperature OF any
given spot at any given time does not depend directly
upon the suns radiation but upon where the air IS
coming from as well as upon the cloudiness pre-
vailing
From his analysis of the weather map Of the
world over a long period Of years, Mr. Clayton has
located certain where changes in pressure,
temperature and rainfall are most intense. 1t is
from these areas, he says, that the highs" and
lows" move out.
They are ike meteorological railroad functions,
ne saws from which dispatched the trains carry
ing the hot air and cold air. the rain and fair
weather for adjacent territories. For this reason ne
calls them "centers Of action"
TT is this shifting Of the centers Of the action which
l. cause the completely Of the weather picture. One
year, for example, the middle Atlantic states are
affected in a certain way by the combined influences
Of several fields Of action. The next year. shifts in
the position of these centers another weather
picture TO develop.
Mr. Clayton's important contribution 10 an UNDER
standing Of the situation is his contention that the
shift of these centers Of action depends upon
changes in the suns radiation.
when the sun grows hotter, there is tendency
for the northern hemisphere grow cooler, he says
This is because the tendency of a hotter sun IS 10
and to increase their intensties This causes these
areas to have more Of push in sending cold air
southwark.