1882.] 



On the Conservation of Solar Energy. 



395 



gases so produced by means of a Sprengel pump, but was prevented 

 by lack of time from pursuing the inquiry, which I purpose, however, 

 to resume shortly, being of opinion that, independently of my present 

 speculation, the experiments may prove useful in extending our know- 

 ledge regarding the laws of dissociation. 



It should here be observed that, according to Professor Stokes, the 

 ultra-violet rays are in a large measure absorbed in passing through 

 clear glass, and it follows from this discovery that only a small portion 

 of the chemical rays found their way through the tubes to accomplish 

 the work of dissociation. This circumstance, being adverse to the 

 experiment, only serves to increase the value of the result observed. 



Assuming, for my present purpose, that dissociation of aqueous 

 vapour was really effected in the experiment just described, and 

 assuming, further, that stellar space is filled with aqueous and other 

 vapour of a density not exceeding the ^oVo^ n P ar ^ °f our atmosphere, 

 it seems reasonable to suppose that its dissociation would be effected 

 by solar radiation, and that solar energy would thus be utilised. The 

 presence of carbonic anhydride and carbonic oxide would only serve 

 to facilitate the decomposition of the aqueous vapour by furnishing 

 substances to combine with nascent oxygen and hydrogen. It is not 

 necessary to suppose that all the energy radiated from the sun into 

 space should be intercepted, inasmuch as even a partial return of heat 

 dn the manner described would serve to supplement solar radiation, 

 the balance being made up by 'absolute loss. To this loss of energy- 

 must be added that involved in keeping up the circulating movement of 

 the gas, which, however, would probably not be relatively greater than 

 ^hat concerned in the tidal retardation of the earth's rotation. By 

 means of the fan- like action resulting from the rotation of the sun, the 

 vapours dissociated in space would be drawn towards the polar surfaces 

 of the sun, be heated by increase in density, and would burst into flame 

 at a point where both their density and temperature had reached the 

 necessary elevation to induce combustion, each. ^complete cycle taking, 

 however, years to be accomplished. The resulting aqueous vapour, 

 carbonic anhydride and carbonic oxide, would be drawn towards the 

 equatorial regions, and be then again projected into space by centri- 

 fugal force. 



Space would, according to these views, be filled with gasaous com- 

 pounds in process of decomposition by solar radiant energy, and the 

 -existence of these gases would furnish an explanation of the solar 

 absorption spectrum, in which the lines of some of the substances may 

 be entirely neutralised and lost to observation. As regards the heavy 

 metallic vapours revealed in the sun by the spectroscope, it is assumed 

 that these form a lower and denser solar atmosphere, not participating 

 in the fan-like action which is supposed . to affect the light outer 

 atmosphere only, in which hydrogen is the principal factor. 



VOL. XXXIII. < 2 G 



