MR WRAGGE ON THE CAUSE OF THE EARTHQUAKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 448, 9 January 1909, Page 2

MR WRAGGE ON THE CAUSE OF THE EARTHQUAKE.

One of the passengers by the Aparima, which arrived in Auckland from Calcutta on Tuesday, was Mr Clement Wragge, the eminent meteorologist and astronomer, who is on a return visit to the Dominion from India. Mr Wragge was asked for his views in regard to the causes of the terrible Italian earthquake. “ We have,” he said, “ just come through the most remarkable period of solar activity on record. The sun many times previously has had its maximum and minimum moods, and, during the former, the great cyclones which lorms the sun spots are more pronounced than at any other times. On this occasion the maximum period has been unduly prolonged, and ought to have come to an end, according to all former observations, in the early part of 1907. As a matter of fact, ever since then the storms have been lotting somewhat less, though there iiave been abnormal solar cyclones noticeable on several occasions. “Although

the minimum mood of the sun is gradually coming, yet this .-abnormal maximum period is vem stubborn, and is, as it were, trjlng to hold its own. As evidence M that, there is this rising solar outburst. Under its influence these vllbrations have been flung off two big storms now showing the face of the sun. “ The portions where the surface of the earth is weak at once respond. Thus we have these fearful outbursts, which have occurred in South Italy, where the crust of the earth has responded only too readily to the vibrations set up by the two storms.” Mr Wragge then brought out his solar telescope, and, on pointing it at the sun, a circle of light was reflected on a sheet of paper placed in the eye-piece. On this were seen, with startling distinctness, two prominent spots, with a third and smaller one at the side. ” Those two,” said Mr Wragge, ‘‘ were without doubt the cyclones that caused the big earthquake. I first noticed them appear on the edge of the sun about six or seven days ago —just at the the time of the quake.”