THE MAGNETIC STORM

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 208, 28 May 1921, Page 3

THE MAGNETIC STORM

VALUABLE DATA GAINED FOR WIRELESS RESEARCH

CURIOUS HAPPENINGS IN NEW ZEALAND Mr. A. Gibbs, Deputy Chief Engineer of the Post and Telegraph Department, gave an interesting address at the feting of the Philosophical Society on n nail esday on the effect of the recent magnetic stonn on the Dominion s telephonic and telegraphic communications and on the wireless service. Dr. G. h.

A Janis presided. , Mr. Gibbs said that reports were being forwarded from every part nt New Zealand, but as yet only a few had arrived. These, however, gave a good indication of the extent of the magnetic storm. "Disturbances are always present,” he said, "in telephonic and telegraphic installations and also in wireless services. The telegraphic cables are earthed at each end ami a natural disturbance causes electric currents to flow along the wires. Comparatively few earth currents exist in INcw Zealand, except in the country, where single wires are frequently used. In. the telephonic installations, ' .natural disturbances manifest themselves in this form of intermittent chirps, buz.zes and hisses. Frequently these noises are caused by a _ current made by the swinging of the wires, etc. Peculiar noises are very often heard in wireless telegraphy under normal conditions, and are caused by natural electrical waves caused through va ” tn j’ means. It frequently happens that all communication between New Zealand and Apia or Rarotonga is broken, oft, the latter stations being unable to receive any messages owing to the -waves caused by natural disturbances in the atmosphere. The wireless operator has given thi'S'i peculiar interruptions the name of ‘X’s,’ probably because they are something of an unknown quantity. It is stated that it is always possible to tell in Samoa and Rarotonga when a storm is coming, because it is found impossible to receive wireless messages. In such cases the ‘X’s* sound like rain pattering on to a roof." Mr. Gibbs then proceeded to give some of the summarised reports which had been reeeivedl from various parts of the Dominion on the effect of the storm. In Otago the interruptions commenced on the Sunday and tapered off gradually on Tuesday. The earth services could not be used, and a metallic return had to bo made instead by joining up with another cable. This also had to be done in other parts of tho Dominion. In Wellington certain curious effects were noted on the Sunday. The potential dlfference between various points changed rapidly anil covered a wide range. At Auckland the disturbances were noticed, but not so distinctly as to make the linos inoperative. However, great i.4faculty was experienced in adjusting the receivers. . Referring to the effect upon the wireless service, Mr. Gibbs mentioned that the data which had been gathered throughout. New Zealand would prove very valuable in connection with certain researches which are being carried out in various parts of the world in an endeavour to determine the causes and peculiarities of “X’s.” A number of experiments, carried on during a period of several months in Alaska, had shown that little effects by “X’s” had been caused during auroral displays. In New Zealand a contrary effect had been experienced, and this tfact would no doubt bo of considerable interest to the M ireless Research Board, London. 'One of the strangest facts discovered was that while calls sent out from closeby stations could, at certain periods, not bo received, long-distanco calls from Panama, the south of England, France, and Italy could be heard at normal strength. Another remarkable fact was that in some eases, instead of having the normal "X’s” coming into the receivers, there was a sudden cessation and no atmospheric disturbances could be heard. Again, one minute signals would be coming in at normal strength and the next they would be greatly weakened. At Awanui on the Friday messages from Apia, Samoa, came in scry steadily and of abnormal strength. Mr. Gibbs read a brief summary of how the calls had some in to Awanui and of the various strengths, etc. In connection with the receiving of long-distance calls at normal strength, he mentioned that, it was supposed that the signals were more greatly distorted by disturbances when leavin'* the transmitting station than later in° their career. At the conclusion of Mr. Gibbs’s address, Mr. E. M. Y ood, in talking: of the Aurora, mentioned that experiments mad© in the Antarctic during auroral displays showed that w’reless messages could he sent three tines the distance they went under me mu. conditions. These, experiment? could onlv be made due north and south. Ore of 'the curious things about. ->e storm was its sudden commencement amt sudden ending.