Odd Goings-on In

Geophysical Year

Odd Goings-on In Outlandish Place

ISLANDS people have heard i ference over the air to the I national Geophysical Year, as a lot more will be heard on t: subject between now and July' 1957, when the “year” starts. It end on December 31, 1958.

The International Geophysii Year is a period of research ii natural phenomena, especially ii. the effects of radiations from 1 sun and other sources of “out space.”

Renamed, it is a successor to 1 International Polar Years of 188? and 1932-3.

This time the research pen takes place at or near the “suns? maximum”—a period when mysterious outbursts of gas s radiation from the sun occur w/ greatest frequency and violence.

This maximum takes place ab( every 11 years. Its arrival heralded by greatly improved sho wave radio reception, which is matter of particular interest people living in the Islands, that is only one of the more evidl effects.

THE work will not be concentraE entirely in polar regions.

Three “bands” of longitude hr been set as areas of special effl One of these, at 140 degrees es passes through Australia, M Guinea, and Micronesia.

In addition, there is likely toe special work undertaken at established research stations like ; Apia Observatory, and the Rs. tonga ionisphere research static The 40 countries co-operating carry out research into meteoroid the ionisphere, geomagnetid auroral displays, cosmic n oceanography, seismology, and gll ology. A considerable amount J research work involving rode which will carry instruments c great heights will be a featf especially in the United States..

There will be three World □ each month —two at new moon one near the quarter-moon.

There will be six World Mete*e logical Intervals of ten days ee one in each period of three mor( near the equinox or solstice.

There will be special A Periods, when warning will! passed to all observers of any expected phenomena—for exan, magnetic storms (violent sunspp< This is going to be a perioo< great interest to science— Islands people need not take co if groups of aloof men, loaded t strange black boxes, suddenly aru and set up shop in outlann places.

It will be merely another sympq of the Atomic Age.