Evening star., 1954-05-03
Y. S. to Aid Study
Of Earth S. Structure
Precise Mapping Is Aim
Of Worldwide Effort
By Thomos R. Henry

" tuVmoS n. UenU
Plans for American participation In
an international geophysical year In =
combined effort to solve outstanding
problems Of the structure Of the earth
and its place in the universe rapidly
are taking shape.
They have just been announced
through the National Research Council
by DR.. Joseph Kaplan, chairman Of the
United States committee cooperating
with the international Geophysical
Union.
A major attempt will be made during
this year. extending through parts of
1957-58, to obtain an exact picture of
the shape Of the earth, Highly precise
latitude and longitude measurements
can now be made by direct photography
Of the moon and nearby stars, result
of many years Of total eclipse expedi-
tions. With international cooperation.
says DR.. Kaplan. it thus becomes pos
sible for the first time to triangulate
the whole earth.
Observations have been planned at
approximately is stations scattered
around the globe. The resulting data
will make 1t possible to determine. the
location Of any spot on earth with. Q
maximum error of only 90 feet. This
will add greatly to the precision with
which changes in the earth's speed
Of rotation can be measured and may
be expected to shed new light on the
inner constitution Of the planet.
Magnetic Storm Data.
A better understanding OF magnetic
storms will be the chief objectives Of
the geomagnetism program. Two tempo
rary obServatories will be established at
Big Delta and Mckinley national parks
in Alaska. In addition there will be two
temporary observatories in the Antarc-
tic and semiautomatic station will be
installed on Jarvis Island in the Pa
cific, which is near the junction OF the
magnetic and geographic equators.
Studies of the ionosphere, the elec-
trified layers from so to 200 miles above
the earth's surface from which radio
waves are reflected to earth will be
carried out in Arctic and Antarctic as
well as in middle latitudes of both the
northern and southern hemispheres.
Special attention will be given to the
aurora borealis and to the still mys-
terious "afterglow" which appears above
the horizon before sunrise and after
sunset
Observations will be taken by net
work Of 80 stations in the United States
and Alaska. The scientists will study
the motions of electrically charged par
ticleS at the approximate height of the
aurora and the absorption of interstel-
lar radio waves, now of outstanding
Importance in the new radio astronomy.
A network of II stations will be set up
to observe radio reflections from the
aurora and 26 stations will form spec
geographic patrol to photograph the
radiation from the northern lights.
Solar Flare Patrols.
Solar flare patrols will be in opera
ton at five American and Is foreign
observatories. It is planned to observe
every one Of these great cascades Of
flaming gas spurted thousands Of mills
above the solar surface and oorrelats
them with changes in the earth's mag
netism. radio disturbances and the in.
tensity OF cosmic radiation.
CoSmic radiation, the mysterious rain
OF particles from outer space, will be
investigated with about 100 balloon
flights planned for six sites and north
ern and southern hemispheres.a Other
observations will be made from fixed
high-altitude stations around the world
and aircraft flights are planned at con-
slant attitudes along meridians of
longitude.
Four studies in glaciology are planned.
two in the Arctic and two in the Ant
arctic. Studies of the ice cap and
fringe areas of Greenland will be un-
'dertaken in cooperation with Danish
scientists. In the Antarctic another
group will study the Ross Shelf and
survey the 400-mile front of this great
ice mass. considered one of the won
ders OF the world. Other studies are
planned on the ice cap which covers
the interior of the continent.
For further exploration of the upper
limits of the earth's atmosphere and
beyond, rockoons (small balloon
launched rockets) will be launched
from sites in New. Mexico. Greenland,
Canada and Alaska. Special rockets
will be sent up on particular occasions,
to be designated world days" Of un-
usual solar or magnetic activity.
While the United States program 10
by far the most ambitious announced
to date, other countries are planning
nearly as intense activity.