EXTRATERRESTRIAL FACTORS IN THE INITIATION OF NORTH AMERICAN POLAR FRONTS

Abstract

Begun as an effort to better delineate the effects of sunspots on North American polar front initiation, this study soon uncovered rather remarkable lunar-solar gravitational influences far outweighing the sunspot influences. Data used in the study included daily sunspot numbers since 1914, a daily calendar of lunar phases, and departures of Chicago mean daily temperatures from the daily normal. Sharpest Chicago temperature declines occurred 10 days following new or full moon reinforced by lunar perigee; the declines were smaller in the absence of lunar perigee, and they were at a minimum at the times of quarter moons and lunar apogee. These gravitational forces were found capable of negating of accentuating the effects of rising or falling sunspot numbers. Extension of this study to a broader observational basis should provide helpful information for greater accuracy in long-range weather forecasting.