394 CONNECTION BETWEEN STORMS AND SUN-SPOTS. 



observed that the great storms to which reference is here made, or at least a 

 large proportion of them, have extended over areas fully equal to any that 

 have visited this continent the present season. Unquestionably the disturb- 

 ing cause this year is the same as that in the years of the greatest frequency of 

 remarkable storms that have passed. Lightning the most vivid, thunder 

 the most deafening, and earthquake shocks characterized the terrible storms 

 of history, as they have been the prominent features of this year's meteoro- 

 logical record, pointing conclusively to the fact that they have been, and 

 are at each returning cycle, magnetic in their origin. 



The cause of these periodical years of violent storms, it is conceded, is 

 clearly due to the unusual magnetic activity of the earth at that time 

 and the dependence of this upon the sun's condition as to the areas and 

 number of spots. The phenomena of their increase and gi-adual decrease 

 through constant periods has been established by the untiring daily 

 observations of the celebrated G-erman astronomer, Schwabe, (covering 

 nearly thirty years), and the confirmation of his discoveries by other 

 eminent observers. Schwabe found that the solar spots increase in 

 magnitude and frequency for about five years and a half, and decrease 

 through an equal period, completing- the cycle in about eleven years. 

 Professor Loomis in one of his recently published works— " an Anah^sis 

 of the Observations of many years," — shows conclusively " an existence 

 between the sun-spot period and the intensity of terrestrial magnet- 

 ism." It is subject to proof that the meteorological disturbances under 

 consideration are purely magnetic, the effects as we see them purely local, 

 and not universal but erratic. These magnetic variations, the results of 

 which are violent storms on the earth's surface, were once considered fitful 

 — their cause having been susi^ected, but not believed periodical — are equally 

 with other distinct natural forces cosmical in their character. Lesser cycles 

 than that of eleven years have been suspected by some observers, and along 

 one of fifty-six years due to the conjunctions — successively of Saturn and 

 Jupiter. The theory of Professor Tice is of the same nature, relatively, and 

 the disturbances which he ventures to predict are magnetic in their causes, 

 but based upon the distinct effect of the planets, successively, on the earth 

 at their equinoxes. His theory, in a measure, must be correct and in accord- 

 ance with now known laws, but whether his predictions as to precise localities 

 and exact dates are not rather the result of too great an enthusiasm, will 

 admit of discussion. We are now approaching the period of maxima of 

 eun-spots, (1879), and also the fifty -six-year period, (1884), and may expect 

 all the fury of its attendant phenomena for the next ten years, with a cul- 

 minating force at the latter date, unless, as believed by LaPlace, there is 

 always some compensatory law which interferes at the proper time to re- 

 adjust any impending clash. An attempt has not been made to record all the 

 great storms of history, the difficulties of gathering such a list being obvious. 

 But sufficient data, both ancient and colonial, has been examined to prove 

 that so far as remarkable seasons are concerned, this is no more so than 



