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Theory of magnetic storms
252
~Iechanies, ~hysies, and Chemistry.
is then put into clean water again, am] left there for a few minutes, during which tile operator prepares a second photograph if required. The former one being taken out, is put into solution ~, where it stays for a few minutes, and is then washe,t :rod rinsed as usmd. Now, as the time of immersion will influence the depth of color, by-successive immersions an orange-colored cravat will be obtained in one minute, a coffee-colored great-coat in five, violet-colored trousers in ten, and a black coat in thirty minutes, while the hyposulphite of soda, or solution 1~, gives color to the flesh and hair. Hence certain colors, though not quite the natural ones, may be obtained, which is a decided step in advance of what had been previously achieved.
£'l~eow cf ;~h~gnelie Storms. ~'rom the London Aflwmeunl, Jan., 18~4.
In a paper read at the last meeting of the Royal Society, the Astronomer Royal propounds a theory to account for the phenomen~ ]~nown as magnetic storms. Tlle behavior of water under the influence of different currents and various obstacles, as, for example, among islands, has been often observed and described ; and this may be taken as one illustratibn. Another is found in the behavior of air din'lug disturbances of the atmosphere. These phenomena, in Mr.Airy's opinion, represent the movements of a magnetic ether ~'hich he supposes to overspread the whole surface of the earth as an impalpable fluid envelope several feet in thickness. If we then conceive this magnctic ether " t o be subject to occasional currents produced by some action or cessation of action of the sun, which currents are liable to interruptions or perversions of the same kind as those in air and water," we have a theory by which thc disturbances that occur in the observed phenomena of terrestrial umgnetism may be explained. This theory, emanating from so important an authority, will, no doubt, attract attention in many quarters. Mr. Airy believes that the questions involved ,night be decided by a series of observations made " a t five Or six observatories spread over a space less than the Continent of Europe." :For accuracy of results he would prefer self-registering apparatus properly constructed. " The report of my communication to the Royal Society, ' O n 5I,~gnetic Storms,' contained in tile Athenczum of the 2d of January (p. 23, col. 3), is perfectly correct except in the mention of the supposed depth of the magnetic ether, which is stated in the report of the Athe~ceum as perhaps several feet in thickness. In my communication to the Royal Society i made no allusion to the probable measure of the magnetic ether's depth ; but I may now state, as my idea, that the supposed ether extends much higher, perhaps as high as mountaintops, possibly as high as the atmosphere ; and somewhat lower, probab]y permeating the external crust of the earth. These suppositions do not depart from the character of 'surface-current,' ~ term which I used in the discussionat the Royal Society's meeting. "Yours~ &c. G . B . AIaY." Iloyal Observatory, C reenwieh; Jan. 4, 1S6~,.
~Iechanies, ~hysies, and Chemistry.
is then put into clean water again, am] left there for a few minutes, during which tile operator prepares a second photograph if required. The former one being taken out, is put into solution ~, where it stays for a few minutes, and is then washe,t :rod rinsed as usmd. Now, as the time of immersion will influence the depth of color, by-successive immersions an orange-colored cravat will be obtained in one minute, a coffee-colored great-coat in five, violet-colored trousers in ten, and a black coat in thirty minutes, while the hyposulphite of soda, or solution 1~, gives color to the flesh and hair. Hence certain colors, though not quite the natural ones, may be obtained, which is a decided step in advance of what had been previously achieved.
£'l~eow cf ;~h~gnelie Storms. ~'rom the London Aflwmeunl, Jan., 18~4.
In a paper read at the last meeting of the Royal Society, the Astronomer Royal propounds a theory to account for the phenomen~ ]~nown as magnetic storms. Tlle behavior of water under the influence of different currents and various obstacles, as, for example, among islands, has been often observed and described ; and this may be taken as one illustratibn. Another is found in the behavior of air din'lug disturbances of the atmosphere. These phenomena, in Mr.Airy's opinion, represent the movements of a magnetic ether ~'hich he supposes to overspread the whole surface of the earth as an impalpable fluid envelope several feet in thickness. If we then conceive this magnctic ether " t o be subject to occasional currents produced by some action or cessation of action of the sun, which currents are liable to interruptions or perversions of the same kind as those in air and water," we have a theory by which thc disturbances that occur in the observed phenomena of terrestrial umgnetism may be explained. This theory, emanating from so important an authority, will, no doubt, attract attention in many quarters. Mr. Airy believes that the questions involved ,night be decided by a series of observations made " a t five Or six observatories spread over a space less than the Continent of Europe." :For accuracy of results he would prefer self-registering apparatus properly constructed. " The report of my communication to the Royal Society, ' O n 5I,~gnetic Storms,' contained in tile Athenczum of the 2d of January (p. 23, col. 3), is perfectly correct except in the mention of the supposed depth of the magnetic ether, which is stated in the report of the Athe~ceum as perhaps several feet in thickness. In my communication to the Royal Society i made no allusion to the probable measure of the magnetic ether's depth ; but I may now state, as my idea, that the supposed ether extends much higher, perhaps as high as mountaintops, possibly as high as the atmosphere ; and somewhat lower, probab]y permeating the external crust of the earth. These suppositions do not depart from the character of 'surface-current,' ~ term which I used in the discussionat the Royal Society's meeting. "Yours~ &c. G . B . AIaY." Iloyal Observatory, C reenwieh; Jan. 4, 1S6~,.