Stormy Weather in Stellar Atmosphere Revealed in Observatory Photographs

Huge electrical storms sweeping through the stellar atmosphere cutting a swath thousands of miles long were reported by the Harvard Astronomical Laboratory, which has been taking pictures of the sun.

Two huge sunspots have been revealed in the photographs taken over a period of five days, one extending for a distance of 70,000 miles, the other 125,000. In addition to these a few more, relatively smaller, have been spotted. These spots have been diagnosed as atmospheric cyclones.

It is expected that the number of these spots will increase during the next three years with the maximum number being reached about 1939. Loring B. Andrws '25, instructor in astronomy, declared that the present outburst of sunspottedness is merely the forerunner of an expected greater number of spots in the future.

Research has conclusively demonstrated that sunspots are huge solar cyclones, whirlwinds in the solar atmosphere, accompanied by pronounced magnetic conditions, according to Andrews. Each sunspot, assumedly as the result of the whirling of electrically charged particles within it, is a huge magnet.

"Given this manifestation of solar activity, our interest lies in the determination of any possible terrestrial influence," Andrews said. "The presence of huge magnetic fields in the sunspots results in their acting as howitzers to pour forth charged particles of matter into the interplanetary realm. If the earth is in the range of the howitzer, its atmosphere is the recipient of these particles, and, beyond doubt, electrical phenomena should occur there.

"The rotation of the sun on its axis in a period of some 25 days prevents the earth's being constantly in the range of a sunspot or sunspot group, and so we look for the evidence of a terrestrial effect when a spot lies near the centre of the sun as seen from the earth. When this state of affairs is valid such terrestrial phenomena as auroral displays, magnetic storms, and effects on long distance radio reception should occur, for they depend upon the electrical conditions of the atmosphere; and indeed our expectations are fulfilled.

"All these three phenomena show a close correlation with sunspot activity and particularly with the passage of an active sunspot group across the central area of the sun's disc; the aurorae, borealis and australis, perform beautifully, magnetic compasses oscillate to and fro over a small amplitude centered at their normal position, and long distance radio reception is either improved or hampered. In connection with the last of these it should be said that whether reception is improved or hampered depends upon the wavelength of the signals and other factors related to radio transmission. The assumed validity of a correlation of electrical phenomena on the earth and sunspot activity is thus established in a straight-forward manner.