C. Abbe on Terrestrial Temperature and Solar Spots. 345 
‘Ant, XXXV.~<Oni the tonnection between Terrestrial Temperature 
and Solar Spots ; by CLEVELAND ABBE, Director of the Cin- 
cinnati Observatory. 
WE are indebted to Sir Wm. Herschel for the suggestion that 
probably the presence of numerous spots on the surface of the 
sun is indicative of increased chemical activity, and is accom- 
panied by increased radiation of heat. The Nh sp ae and 
theories of the past ten years however would 1 
opposite conclusion from that of Herschel. 
Immediately on the receipt of the Astronomische Nachrichten 
containing Wolf's tabular view of the relative frequency of the 
solar spots for the past three centuries, I made an extended 
comparison of the numbers therein tag with such meteoro- 
logical tables as were then accessible to me. After much labor 
I was forced to conclude that the variations of solar hea = so 
slight that they are masked in the local climatic peculiari 
rther reflection, however, it seemed certain rong the 
heat radiated from a dark spot t should be of low intensity, and 
would therefore be largely absorbed by the aqueous vapor of 
our own atmosphere as well as by that of the sun. I have 
therefore been lately led to make a special study of the series 
of observations made on the Hohen ser and ne Moric 
re e 
omitting the years 1793, 17 99 1811, 1812 and 1817. 
Assuming that the number of visible solar spots or groups 
are an index of the nati solar Tadation of heat, we have but 
to compare the numb g the relative spot frequency 
~ annu 
given by when The solution of the equation h=h+st aes 
accompanying ae exhibits for each year the value of 
s and ¢,,—the latter d in degrees of Reaumur. 
The arithmetical ea of the annual temperatures gives 
‘ M,=+5°'178+0° 061 
prob. error of one annual nae — “449 
The residuals are given in the column 
Ries Re: the term st we find by he method of least squares 
— (4)= +5°-450(+0°-086)—sx cdg? 00204) 
p. e. of one annual mean = +0°-430. 
© ries has not 
ees oe ee yet been 
Am. Jour. Sct.—Szconp Serres, Vor. L, No. 150.—Nov., 1870, 
A 22 
