Beautiful Auroras--But What of Static?

Radio Record, 5 June 1936, Page 17

Beautiful Auroras--But What of Static?

Listeners’ Reports Invited for Scientitic Study |

(Written for the "Radio Record" by

M.

Geddes

F.R.A.

S.

Director Aurorae and Zodiacal » ‘aht

Section, New Zealand Astrononucal Society.)

LISTENERS have all experienced the annoyance caused by interference from static. All have doubiless noticed that the static on some nights is much worse than on others, and that there is no regularity about its occurrence. We can‘not predict it, and in general we can assign no defimte cause to it,

However, in recent years it has been ‘realised much more fully that various types of wireless interference, includ- . ing certain types of static, probably . originate beyond our earth, and that conditions ‘on the sun are chiefly responsible. It is now apparent that the sciences of wireless and astronomy are, in some of their aspects, much more closely related than was suspect‘ed years ago.

The surface regions of the sun are subject’ to vast storms, some of which are Visible to us in the form:‘of sunspots. This solar activity undoubtedly gives rise to certain phetiomena on the earth and: in its surrounding atmosphere. One of: these phenomena is that known as. the aurora, commonly referred to in New Zealand as the Southern ‘Lights. As most readers know, this appears in the form of

glows. and -flickering rays of light, usually near the southern horizon. It is visible at times from all parts of New Zealand, but is most frequent in the southern portions of the South Island. It is thought to' be caused by energy of an electrical nature radiated from the solar storms already mentioned acting on the gas particles of the upper atmosphere in such @& way ag to make them glow. Now, there is no reason to suppose that this energy from the sun ‘has no other effect than the production of the aurora. We know that it also gives rise to magnetic storms on the earth and, accordingly, it seems certain that it must also have some effect on wireless transmission. At times various New Zealand observers have reported ain unusually large amount of static

during the time that an aurora has been visible, This while not proving that there is any definite connection between the two, indicates a possible ‘line of research. It is now proposed to extend the study to include an investigation into the. relation existing between the appearance of aurora] displays and the occurrence of static and other types of wireless interference. To this end the assistance is being enlisted of amateur radio transmitters throughout the country in the hope that they will be able to supply reports of interference With radio transmission or reception, and that these reports will provide a basis for further study. Bven those, however, who have not delved deeply into the subject can, by providing reports of the reception, render material assistance. In this connection reports from North Island listeners are just as valuable as ‘those from the South Island, and it is extremely important: to receive observations from as wide an area as. possible. I shall be only too pleased to hear from any listeners who are interested, and will provide them with record forms which will reduce to a minimum the labour involved. ’ [Those readers who are interested in. this inventinetion. should write direct to Mr, M. Geddes, F.R.A.S., Eremedale, Riverton R.D,,