FROM OUR CONTEMPORARIES

H’S the explosion of atom and hydrogen bombs af- fected the weather? Because this question is still being asked the world over, a young French nuclear __ physicist, Charles Noel Matrin, has made some interesting studies.

He has published a book which we don’t hear much about. It is a summary of ideas he put before the Acad- emie des Sciences in Paris, in November, 1954.

His considerations go along these lines: What happens when a group of scientists ex- plodes an H-bomb? One thousand million tons of rock and dust are blown skyward 20 to 25 miles.

This is well into the region of the “jet streams,” the vio- lent hurricanes permanently circling the hemisphere in temperature latitudes at a high altitude: These move from west to east, taking two weeks to make a complete revolution.

They carry with them the huge tonnage of matter pul- verized into microscopically fine particles, and radioactive, forming a Stratospheric layer of matter lasting for months. This layer operates as an at- mospheric filter, reducing very appreciably the effective solar radiation received down here leading to a measurable’ tem-

perature deficit with all its consequences.

About once every ten years nature throws her own H- bombs, in the form of volcan- ic explosions.

The quantity of dust thrust up by Mount Krakatoa in 1883 was of the order of an H- bomb. It affected the world’s weather for three years, at the end of which the loss of radia- tion in Europe measured some 15 percent. After the eruption of Mount Katmai in the Aleu- tians in 1912, a reduction of 20 percent was measured in Al- geria. : ~ x *

Since Hiroshima, the scien- tists have exploded over 100 nuclear “devices” including a dozen or more H-bombs. In the beautiful name of “se- curity” they have thus taken it upon themselves to endan- ger the balance of natural con- ditions (ecology) to which all living organisms have ad- justed themselves in the course of millions of years.

This is because the cumula- tive effects of their radiation following the soiling of the at- mosphere causes slower air circulation, an alternation in the world’s wind system, and falling mean temperatures, which, in the extreme, could lead to the icing up of the globe.

MOISTURE conditions in many sections of the Great Plains are the worst in history, according to the U.S. Department of Agri- culture, announced last week. Some 29,000,000 mil- lion acres are already so dried out that they are in danger of damage by soil- eroding winds. The states with the great- est acreage of imperilled land are Colorado, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. The drought is now six

Worst drought in history

years old and spreads over 19 states. It is several times larger than the Dust Bowl of the thirties. Dr. Edmund Schulman, University of Arizona scientist, has esti- mated from tree rings that the current drought is the worst in 750 years.

In many places the shor- tage of rain has equalled or surpassed the marks of 20 years ago. Up to last De- cember 700 counties in 16 states had been declared disaster areas.

Do H-tests ajfect the weather? yes, says French nuclear scientist

This is sobering enough, but what of the rain? One of the necessary conditions for the precipitation of rain is the presence of minute particles of dust etc. in the air to serve as nuclei for the condensation of water. A scientist “seeding” a cloud with dry ice to pro- duce rain is trying to supply just this condition.

If the evidence of our eyes is to be believed, the atomized and radioactive particles from the bomb tests serve the pur- pose with far greater effect, Each atomic explosion sup- plies the atmosphere with a colossal number of highly ef- ficacious nuclei for the con- densation of clouds. The rela- tively small uranium bomb ex- plosion is estimated to pro- duce one million radioactive atomic particles: per cubic metre of “air,

* * *

Naturally, the use of our whole planet as a field of ex- periment for vast artificial rainmaking leaves the conse- quences beyond control. In some places we get flood catas- trophes, and since the total mass of water vapor remains constant, drought or unseas- onably mild winter occurs in other places.

On every continent right

Tound the world, the weather

had been irregular and damage has been suffered. In duraticn, intensity and magnitude, it is unprecedented in modern his- tory.

The meteorologists, of course, will have none of this as befits the conservative mind. Only those of Italy and Japan have broken the other- wise solid front and recogniz- ed a definite relationship be- tween the bomb tests and the weather as an undoubtable fact. It is estimated that it will take 20 to 30 years for the others, relying on the Statis- tical method, to see the point. And by that time, inealculable damage may have been done,

WORLD NEWS

OPEN FORUM

Prizewinning letters

Each week the Paci- fic Tribune will present a book to the writer of the most interesting, en- tertaining and _ topical letter published on this page. Contributors are urged to keep their Tet- ters to a _ reasonable length.

The prize-winning let- ter in our last issue was written by W. C, Muir,

Fruitvale, B.C.

Jews in Hungary B.C., VANCOUVER, B.C.:

Your readers may be inter- ested in the -following items which originate .in Israel, These items give a real in- sight into the true character of the Hungarian “revolution” and the purpose of the “brave rebels’’ who led it.

The latter are in no way to be confused with the people of Hungary who had just com- plaints and who, in a peaceful way, attempted to get these shortcomings corrected.

The correspondent of the Tel-Aviv evehing paper Yidies Achroines cabled the follow- ing to his paper on November 20:

“The revolt was led by old political and anti-Semitic or- ganizations. These people united under the slogan ‘The Jews on the Trees.” The re- sult was that many people be- gan to attack Jewish homes and institutions.”

Edwin Eton who sent this cable is here quoting a well. known Jewish Hungarian who left Hungary and did not want his named used as he planned to return to his native land.

The second item is from the Israeli Press Agency Etym and again originates in Tel-Aviv.

On December 7 a correspon- dent of the agency interviewed Mr. Eastwin Bencha whose home is in Bar Sheba, Israel, and who had been visiting his brother in Budapest. Mr. Bencha was interviewed as he landed on the airport in Israel.

“One can say with certain- ty that if it were no< for the Soviet troops there would not be a single Jew left alive in

Hungary today,” said” Bencha. “The rebels até urated in the spirit fl Semitism. They shout io) streets, ‘First we will 5# ter the Jews and then W& liquidate the Commun

According to Mr. Ber the events in Hungary PH through two phases; the was an upsurge among!” people, but in the 5 phase “the leadership Pi taken over by fascist and? Semitic elements.”

“In Budapest as wel other places officers of Horthy Army incite the Jewish people and argument that the & brought Communism 10 4 gary and that they wel leaders of the party Mm” country.” of

Mr. Bencha has four by ers in Hungary and was © for five months> He was 4, ness to the uprising i Hungary on December 9 —

I think, Mr. Editor, thé, items need no comm and speak for themselve>”

4

RCMP costs 4

IVAN BIRCHARD, Vancouver, B.C.: The 8% ment’s decision to dras? increase the cost of supP” the RCMP services 10. muhicipalities must be 9 ed. a

. Municipalities were 1% by proffered lower cod” enter into agreement 1) the RCMP rather than tain municipal police. |) cost factor overshadowed obvious disadvantages ™)) municipalities in having J eral police serve in the ™ » cipal field. |

The senior government not be allowed to incre@ burden on the municip# 3 Let it pay the entire 0% the RCMP.

The municipalities 0) North Shore are to be | gratulated for seeking vise a plan for an inter cipal force. a

Every possible effort 7 be made to effect a WO. agreement before the dere is reached. This will 1) the federal government? tempt to make the muni n't ties pay the piper while ~ call the tune. ,

fF

“Ah, so you dared come home lit up again!” PACIFIC TRIBUNE—P.

JANUARY 25, 1957 —