"The Jupiter Effect"

Alaska Science Forum's first correspondent, Mrs. Claude Swain, requests comment on The Jupiter Effect, a recent book by two scientists suggesting unusual occurrences of geophysical events in 1982. This book suggests a major increase in auroras with attendant disruption to radio communications, changes in weather patterns and major storms that could devastate coastal cities. It also predicts potentially devastating earthquakes.

The authors of The Jupiter Effect, John Gribben and Stephen Plagemann, suggest a major change in sunspot activity in 1982 due to magnetic and gravitational effects of the planets which, in 1982, will be aligned on one side of the sun. Much evidence exists that such effects will be minor and that 1982 will not be a markedly unusual sunspot year.

The authors then further speculate that the supposed change in sunspot activity will produce major effects on the earth's weather, air circulation and rotation. Though changing sunspot activity may affect the earth's rotation, climate and weather, the evidence available so far indicates that the effects are too subtle to create sudden cataclysmic geophysical disasters of the type suggested in The Jupiter Effect.

In summary, The Jupiter Effect is far too speculative to cause major concern.