METEOROLOGICAL DISCOVERY.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1925, Page 4

METEOROLOGICAL DISCOVERY.

GITKAT LUNAR CYCLE. LONDON. JuT.v 'Jib Tile Runs correspondent of the ‘‘Morning Post’’ states that an astronomer. M. Ciguiirdon. has communicated to the Academy of Science a remarkable meteorological discovery by Abbe Gabriel. Professor of .Mathematics at Caen, of a lunar cycle of i IT years, divided into two periods of years or four of 18t> comprising delink:' relations of the lunar orbit v,ith sun spot variations. The Abbe claims that these periods are related to tin’ recunvmws of exces-

sive winter and summer temporal tires, instam ing the historically recorded severe winters of !)SS. 1:559, 15-11. and loi r. and also 13‘J5. 1508. IGD I. and 1830. Hmce lie predicts a very severe and cold winter in ldOii, based on the li is to real cycle of 095.1553. ami 17 I).

LUNAR IXFI-l K.xCE. THIS SCIENTIFIC ASPECT. CH RISTC-lIUR.cn. August !. “This shows the real advantage of taking moteorofigal of/nervations-.” said Air Skey. of the Magnetic Observatory yesterday, to a “Lett eltoi; Times” representative, regarding the cable announcing llio Abbe Gabriel's discovery, “and exemplifies the mol Iness of recording phenomena, which may not seem worth while at the time, but in nearly every ca e are use(til to posterity. It is a fa: t which lias been shown again and again ir. astronomy and everything vise. “I hope it pans cut all right.’’ lie continued, “and that Mmeilmig useful (onics of it. A periodicity cycle sueb as ibis might apply to one place and not Pi another. But if the periodicity is proved useful for one purl of the earl IT* surface, say, for xatuple. Europe, there is no doubt that further research wonl.l enable it to lie applied lo oilier plates as well with good effect.” It was commonly supposed that the moon had nothing to do with the wcatl'T. Mi t'oivlogists had novel been able to discover anything definite on the p iol. out it nov/ sccmeil as it a remarkable diseovciy had been made. Inferring that the moon ga to rise to the tides In tile ocean, il ically might l.e presumed that tho moan | reduced < bongos in Hie atmosphere. but it had been dearly shown that these change*, it any. were vert small in regard to eflect on the barometer. The coiiseqiien. e of lunar itJlluence on the higher atmosphere had let'll in the direction of iiilliieiicipe currents and directing horizon tAii movements, owing to ‘.he exlrcnK: mobility of that atmosphere. One theory of diurnal variations of terrestrial magnetism had I icon brought torward U.v Dr Chapman, in which these horizontal currents played ait important. part. So that- it was cnly a presumption. even by people who knew a lot a 1 out .such things, that the moon had influence ill the variations of the atmosphere; they could not specify as to the exact nature of those influence's. “There is not much data available abisut higher levels,” continued Air Skey, ‘‘hut there is no doubt that much greater attention will he paid to tlic subject by meteorologists in the future, so something may come of it. I had not heard previously of any well established lunar cycle, and it is to he imped that the reported discovery is corre 1. The figures seem to show its authenticity ; what use it is going to he depends on the periods. Once the keyuf the long-range phenomenon is found, then further research work can he done and the results will douhtrdly do much good to humanity, and lo the farmer in particular. Of course, meteorological ma il il’esi a lions arc all mechanical, and a mechanical .-.ystem is the cm - thing In which one could expect

cy lex to shoe' themselves. 1 think that tin's will lie a great, pluee of solar investigation, and it will probably be pr, 111 able.” In concluding. .Mr Skey remarked that, as there had not been meteorology in New /calami for 18b years. .Dominion figures Mould not have much I earing on the question: but figure? taken from older countries bore the slump of authenticity.