~ me) ove against sea-leg@hyfise | How did modern-day cricket ball and bat evolve? Pea ty ede ene Ei — ere Th Cena oe pa As Coan Ree c PRCA ROR Ue TEs DR EU eRe tu TC do RL COU easeSee ee eee arth’s imate seems to have a close relationship with the sunspats. Greater the number of sunspots erupting on 147 milion kilometies distant Sun, higher isthe temperature onthe Earth. What causes sunspots? Unlike > gre ftce eleoolgis: i the Sun = = reget a —_ Lo —— Eatth, the Sun is a gigantic globe of gases hence its axial rotation is not rotating its entire surface uniformly. Its equatorial portion rotates faster and completes one rotation in 25 days whereas the areas near the Sun's Poles take 35 days. These phenomena distort the Sun's magnetic field by ‘making its lines of force curve and overlap, and also distend them well above its surface till they end up in a maelstiom-lke state of violent confusion. (Refer graphic above). Sunspot activity is cyclical in nature and each ofits cycle of 11 years duration is known as solar cycle because the ‘maximum and minimum numbers of sunspots are observed during each 11 year period. Increasing numbers of sunspots have a tendency of incea~ sing the Earth's temperature from the average 14.7°Celsus and vice versa ‘Mysterious lulls in the sunspot activity Scientists were puzzled when no sunspots were observed during the ‘major part ofthe year 2008, Previous 11 year solar cycle of sunspots had ‘ome to an end in 2007 with gradually reducing number of sunspots entirely disappearing from the Sun's face. Instead of 120 to 150 sunspots that should have erupted during the fist year of the new solar cycle, 266 days of 2008 passed without a single sunspot. Surprising absence of sunspots continued in 2009 also, Hence successive winters of these ‘wo years turned out to be colder than normal. (Refer graph below). Scientists became suspicious about ‘unusual trend in the solar cycle as the year of 2010 also id nt show significant increase in sunspots, Sun had not become inactive to such an extent ints ola cycles since 1913. Experts of meteorology have started wondering Whether we are witnessing reincarnation of ‘tle Ke ‘Age’ that had visited the Earth for70 years between 1645, and 1715. the Thames River flowing through London city had remained frozen for nearly thee quarters of a century when the sunspots were absent during this Period as showin in the graph and the inset. Who can say that ‘Uitte ie Age’ will not visit again? eee a een It's worth knowing why during the lat wo years india got 2 dose of bitterly cold winters which have on ‘occasions brought northern Europe and northern America toa grinding halt. Very strong current of air known as jet stream continuously blows in the atmosphere's upper layer known as stratosphere situated between 20 and 50 kilometres abave the Earth. Observe inthe accompanying sraphicnormal oute of et stream which blows fom west tocastatthe velocity up to320kllametres per hour ‘During the ‘quiet Sun’ (scientific term denoting the Period of minimurn sunspots in a solar cycle while ‘active Sun’ denotes the period of maximum sunspots), the temperature of air inthe stratosphere remains lower than normal, hence the jet stream descends somewhat and. starts blowing inthe higher reaches ofthe lawest belt of atmosphere known as troposphere. Further, it makes a U turn before resuming its west to east direction. in the process, et stream obstructs the path of temperate wes terly wind blowing eastward towards Europe and pushes it southward. Significant effect of southward shove that jt stteam gives to the westerly wind system is that it ‘opens up the path forthe cold Siberian polar wind to blow towards Europe to make its winters truly icy. Since the jet stream also shifts southwards with the U turn, effects of bone chilling siberian windare felt up to Narth India Postscript: The period of ‘quiet Sun’ has extended in the year of 2010 also. Consequently, the current winter season straddling 2010-2011 has no failed to leaveits matkin North india before drawing toaclose.mContents Issue 37 | March, 2071 Hassel Pusha Sushil hati, Soman Wyo Pu os, D.N Kaushik Price per copy 239 Subscription 1 issues: 330/ 2a sues & 60/ 5) 81650 a}: 83,304 nfosslarndiacor Printer and Publisher gen a ‘owner Harshal publication, atm Registered office ‘Oppste cor Ho val Cross tiie, Fegiseved with the RNL No. GUJENG/2008/24401 rine and pu 3 Seence Foundation ed a Vinay Printing Pes, taka, Atvedabod March, 2011 FEATURED ARTICLES 07 >>How did the modern-day cricket ball and bat evolve? ‘Who made the fist ball and bat that are used today in cricket? How is seasoned ball made? When was the fist white ball made? Which player's batis the heaviest? Read answers to these and many such questions inthis article 15 >>Multi-faceted cork: More than just a bottle stopper ‘One ust cannot believe that the totally plain and simple looking corkhas thousands of uses. Tiss because corks usually looked at with disdain. There is no other material that has not just one ‘or two but dozens of different qualities 19 >>On the edge of survival: How do animals adapt to the extreme environments 4th cover Nature has nurtured Iie in every nook and comer of the tart be isting hot dese, eezng cold Polar Regan, >> Alll about «craggy mountain summit or the deepest ocean trench! Telephone tapping Nature has not only made the creatures inhabiting these cxtiemel inhospitable environs fitbut the ites in order to keep the Earth tvobbing with life 29 >>Island nations’ losing battle against sea-level rise The average temperature of the Earth has gone up by 16° Celsius inthe last 100 years, owing tothe greenhouse effect. Though the figure may seem negligible, yet its devastating effect has alteady started being experienced by some island counties ATT 2nd cover >>Fast Facts What's wrong with the Sun? 34 >>FactFinder Questions and answers on G.K 38 >>Superquiz the Game of cricket 44 >>Gags ib tickling jokes 45 >>Mindgames Puzzles and brainteasers TTF ‘Safari Merch, 2013 3