Evening star., 1951-03-30
New Finding Announced
On Sun-Eurth Relations
Pressure Of Solar Flores
Seen Affecting Weother

SOhOH
Seen Affecting Weather
By Thomas R. Henry
Depressions or elevations Of atmos-
pheric pressure on the earth follow great
solar flares accompanied by streams
OF gas which are shot out from the
face of the sun far into space at veloc-
tiles as high as 200 miles a second.
This new finding Of Sun-earth rela-
tionships by DR.. r. A. Craig Of the
Harvard College Observatory was an
nounced by DR.. Walter Orr Roberts,
superintendent of the High Altitude
Observatory at Climax, Colo, in the
annual James Arthur lecture Of the
Smithsonian Institution.
The reasons for the phenomenon re-
main unknown. In some localities
pressure is decreased, in others in
creased, presumably due to as vet un-
known atmospheric conditions. There
is possibility that the effect, although
small, has significant influence on the
earth's weather.
Continuous observations at the Cli-
max station, which is 1880 feet above
sea level and on the continental divide,
are directed especially at the suns
corona, the ring of pearl-gray lumines-
cence which surrounds the sun and
which, until very recently, could be
seen only during a total eclipse. It
now can be observed at any time during
the day with the coronagraph, a de-
vice which blacks out the radiation Of
the sun itself.
The Climax observations, DR.. Roberts
said. have revealed mysterious yell
low line in its spectra of the corona
which it has been impossible, up to now.
to identify with any known element.
1t doubtless is emitted, however, by
some substance known in different form
on the earth. 1t tends to appear in the
immediate neighborhood of great prom
inences of hydrogen gas bursting
through the corona.
Coronium Now Seen Daily.
Earlier observations Of the corona
during eclipses showed a green line as
the most important part of its Spec
trum, and for more than half o century
this was believed to represent some ele-
ment known on the earth. 1t was called
"coronium," and was sought in many
laboratories. It now has been identi-
fed ard is observed at Climax many
times each day.
There apparently is nothing solid
on the sun. unless at extreme depths.
1t seems to be gas ball throughout,
DR.. Roberts said. but this gas Is opaque
except for the relatively thin atrnos-
phere of more tenuous gas known as
the chromosphere. This seems to be
predominantly hydrogen, lightest of
the elements. At the moment of a
total eclipse there is a brilliant red
fash. due to this hydrogen atmosphere.
r
new type of boot which promises
largely to eliminate frostbitten feet as
a campaign hazard has been developed
by the Navy.
It is made with two layers Of rubber
and a layer of wood insulation between.
Frostbitten feet have been q major
problem in Korea They probably were
the most serious medical problem dur
ing the first six months of the Italian
campaign in the last war with American
troops in water-f1lled foxholes In the
Apennines. The need of some answer
is obvious in Arctic and Antarctic naval
operations.
Dry Socks Are Important.
During the war a partial answer was
found in the shoepac, a combination of
rubber and leather boot worn with one
or two pairs of heavy woolen socks. The
efficacy of this depends on keeping
the socks dry. and this requires chang
ing them frequently, for they become
soaked with perspiration.
Sailors and soldiers cannot be de-
pended on to do this. They neglect to
change socks when they are tired, and
especially when they are in action.
Often they cannot keep dry socks on
hand.
Finding some means of insulation
without requiring frequent drying was
the problem faced by the Office of Naval
Research. Frostbite will put troops out
of action very quickly. 1t is very painful
and difficult to treat. At one time the
Army hospitals in and around Naples
were overcrowded with victims.
The new boot requires only one pair
of medium weight socks. Its rubber
inner layer is kept as close to the skin
as possible, thus preventing the accumu-
lation of perspiration.
The wood-rubber boot is described as
exceptionally comfortable, and is light
in weight. The insulation, sealed in az
in refrigerator. not only reduces sweat
ing of the feet but causes cold water
which leaks in over the top Of the boot
to warm up to body temperature within
an hour.
Large orders for the new boot already
have been placed by the Marine Corps.