SOLAR OBSERVATORY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1604, 22 November 1912, Page 5

SOLAR OBSERVATORY.

;•;:'• ■ NEEDED 'IN AUSTRALASIA. "''■'■. By Telegraph-frees Association-Copyright *!',''••'.' London, November 20. "; The-Royai Meteorological Society passed «, resolution to the effect that a solar observatory in Australia or New Zealand is essential for. the elucidation, of the connection between ■" solar changes and meteorological conditions of the earth. The society hopes the Commonwealth will accept .tho opportunity of acquiring the equipment,that the society is willing to provide and initiate the work. ; SUNSPOTS AND THE WEATHER. ■For some time past' Sir Norman Lock yer, F.R.S., director of solar physics at the South Kensington Observatory, has advocated the establishment of a solar observatory in Australia. There are eolar observatorys in Europe, America, Africa, and other parts of the world, : and theonly remaining gap:is in Australasia. According to the sunspot theory this Coming.summer will be a poor one. ■' The sunspots run in eleven-year cyoles,: and The last maximum period of activity was in.1906. 1 -Solar magnetic storms, if of fait..,: intensity, are readily felt on the earth; and the magnetic curve is in fair agreement with the eleven-year sunspot cycle, showing at least a' connection between the two phenomena, although one may occur without the other. As before stated; these convulsions are intimately ossociated' with the solar mode of radia- : Hon.' So well established is the connection!between the magnetic aspect of these etorms with terrestrial manifestations of magnetism that many savants believe that terrestrial meteorology may be governed by the "health" of the great day star. ■Until-very extensive and accurate data of.'.'the.:.annual-' amount of rainfall, tho nature of prevailing winds, daily temperaturesl and barometric pressures of widelyseparated stations all over the globe are secured, little reliance can be placed in the-occasional coincidence Of a dry sea-. Boh in Australia, or a wet season in' Western Europe, with great solar outbursts. However, it is noticed that tho amount of rainfall in Australian monsoonal disturbances is associated with the presence of atm'ospherio electricity, which again is mainly derived .from the sun. A small freehold orchard of 1\ acres of land is advertised for-sale by' Mr. S. George Nathan. Wellington.