Correlation of Solar and Magnetic Phenomena

Abstract

IN writing on this subject (NATURE, vol. xlix. p. 30), to save space I omitted to refer to one other case of resumed connection. But as such omission might be misunderstood, may I here briefly allude to it? M. Trouvelot, on June 17, 1891, observed changes going on in connection with a luminous appearance near the western limb of the sun, such as he had not before seen. But the magnetic movement was in this case insignificant (see The Observatory, vol. xiv. pp. 326-328). The same reasoning as before may be applied. If the smaller magnetic motions do really directly depend on solar changes of so marked a character, how does it happen that many greater recorded magnetic movements remain without corresponding solar change having been seen? It is a very interesting, indeed critical point, but much more information is necessary to prove that such close connection really exists.