The Omaha guide., 1936-11-07
B00MS AND SLUMPS
LAID TO SUNSPOTS
Various Crises Are Linked
to Solar Activity.

Cambridge, Mass.-In line with
the 'sunspot theory Of economic
and industrial activity, there has
come from Harvard's astronomical
observatory a declaration by DR..
Loring B. Andrews. astronomer.
that sunspot activity can be cor.
related with such varied phenomena
as weather conditions, economic
tranquility and distress. wars. floods
and international crises.
While admitting the correlation
between earthly phenomena and I'M.
usually active spots on the surface
of the sun. Doctor Andrews. in dis
cussing the subject. states that the
actual source of the correlation
must be sought in other solar Pc
culiarities which are correlated in
turn with sunspot activity.
Especially amazing" according
to Doctor Andrews, is the eorrela-
ton of economic prosperity and de-
preston with periods of sunspot
maxima which has held true over a
period of the past two centuries.
Using this correlation. the astron-
omer states that "it would seem
that all the kings horses and all
the kings men cannot bring pros
perity back again; but the sun can"
Next Maxima in 1889
With a sunspot maxima expected
in 1899. the Harvard scientist tenta-
lively predicts an increase in stock
market activity at that time, for
''as the number of sunspots mounts,
prosperity turns the corner; as the
number of sunspots diminishes.
prosperity hides itself in a depres.
sion."
ut may be pointed out" he con.
tinues, that the last sunspot maxi.
mum was in 1923, an epoch in the
economic history of the United
States to which one commonly re-
fers as the good old days" The
last sunspot minimum occurred in
1888. Some n has mentioned an
economic depression similarly dat.
ed"
The blemishes on the face of the
sun, with which Doctor Andrews
finds SO many correlations, have
been demonstrated, according to the
scientist, to be huge solar cyclones,
whirlwinds in the solar atmosphere,
accompanied by pronounced mag
netic conditions. Each sunspot, he
says, is a huge magnet as a result
Of the whirling of electrically
charged particles within it.
Sunspots have cycles of eleven
years. Maximum spottedness has
come in 1906, 1917 and 1923 since
the turn of the century and mini
mum spottedness in 1901, 1918, 1923
and 1888.
Since the sun rotates on its axis
in a period of 25 days, Doctor An
drews states that it is impossible
for the earth to be permanently in
the range Of a sunspot or a sunspot
group, but when the spots are near
the earth, such terrestrial phenom-
ena as auroral displays, electric
storms and effects on long-distance
radio reception are noted.
Sunspot Activity.
"All of these phenomena" Doctor
Andrews declares, "show a close
correlation with sunspot activity
and particularly with the passage
of an active sunspot group across
the central n Of the suns disk;
the aurorae, borealis and a~ustralis,
perform beautifully, magnetic COM
passes oscillate to and fro over a
small amplitude centered in their
normal position, and long-distance
radio reception is either improved
or hampered. In connection with
the last Of these 1t should be said
that whether reception is improved
or hampered depends upon the
wa~ve-length of the signals and 9th.
er factors related to radio trans.
mission"
The explanation of the correlation
between sunspot activity and eco
nomic prosperity and other items on
earth is explained as being indirect
ly caused by the solar phenomena.
When sun spots are at a maxi
mum, he finds. the earth's receipt
of heat from the sun is above nor
NAL. Strangely enough, this does
not make for warmer weather be-
cause it increases the evaporation
of water from the earth's surface
and therefore the weather is cooler
than usual and there is increased
rainfall.
Norway's Home of Giants