Evening star., 1947-04-30
Cos Absorbs LethuI
Short Roys Of Sun
At High Attitudes

Two thin sheets OF pale blue gas
surround the world.
At an altitude of approximately
40 miles the temperature in October
reaches a maximum of nearly IS
degrees Farenheit after falling far
below zero between the earth and
the stratosphere.
These findings, obtained with in.
struments sent more than 100 miles
into space on W. rockets at White
Sands, N. Mex, last fall, were re-
ported at joint meetings of the
American Geophysical Union and
the American Meteorological Society
meeting here today.
They were not Immediately ap-
parent when the instruments were
recovered, but have resulted from
intensive study of the records.
Significant Finding.
Of special significance was the
temperature finding. the first factual
evidence that above certain height
the thermometer readings actually
increase with altitude. 1t is well
known that temperature declines
steadily with altitude and progress
sively thinner air until the base of
the stratosphere is reached. This is
from II to IS miles above the earth
in middle latitudes. There the de-
cline stops and the thermometer
remains constant, or shows a slight
increase for about 10 miles. Then
the temperature starts to go down
again.
1t previously has been postulated
from theory that eventually another
area would be reached where it
would remain constant or increase
and it now is claimed that at such
attitudes as 500 miles outside the
earth, it would reach several hun
dred degrees. But the W. evidence
indicates that there will be cold
layers between hot layers.
After the 40-mile measurements
there was a slow falling off, but the
recordings were considered quite
unreliable. The experiments dem
onstrate clearly, however, that the
temperature goes up after it goes
down and there is every reason to
believe that eventually it goes even
higher.
These findings were reported by
r. j. Havens, N. r. Best and H E.
LagoW of the Naval Research Labor
atory, where the records of the W.
instruments are analyZed.
Ozone Layers Found.
More surprising was the finding of
two ozone layers, one at about II
miles and the other starting at 20
miles above the earths surface. In
the region between, the ozone
dropped essentially to zero. Ozone
is a gas-a form of oxygen in which
three atoms of this element are
combined in the molecule. 1t has
the peculiar property of absorbing
short ultraviolet radiation.
If all this invisible light poured
from the sun reached the earth, life
probably would be impossible. Many
of the short rays are extremely
lethal, especially to lower plants and
animals upon which the pyramid of
terrestrial life is built.
1t has long been known that there
was one ozone layer which served as
shield for the earth. 1t is reliable,
but thin and tenuous and varies in
altitude from time to time.
Down Test Planned.
Evidence of the two layers, like
two layers of armor, came from
special photographs of the sun taken
from the rocket at various points
in its ascent. These photographs
revealed the solar spectrum, the
wave lengths of radiation being
poured forth by the sun into space.
Much shorter wave lengths than
ever had been observed before were
photographed. These had been cut
off by the ozone from reaching any
camera plate in the past. The
photographs revealed clearly the two
distinct layers of absorption. Once
above the 20-mile altitude absorp-
ton became less and less, indicating
that the second ozone layer thins
out rapidly
These findings were reported be-
fore the Geophysical Union by r.
Tousey, j. D. Purcell, J. j. Oberly,
F. S. johnson and E. Durand of the
Naval Research Laboratory.
Plans now are underway for a
W. flight at dawn, one of the OBJ
jects of which will be to clear up
f11rt her the nznne cnmnley