IS THE EARTH DRYING UP ?

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3193, 12 April 1911, Page 5

IS THE EARTH DRYING UP ?

GERMAN SCIENTIST’S THEORY

Scientists say that in tihe moon we may see what the earth is coming toa planet without water and hence without life. It is true some eminent astronomers argue that there are evidences of plants at the bottoms of some of the huge craters. But these would Ixj only the very last remnants of life there. Now a German savant named Ivernbaum comes forward with a brand new theory to account for the disappearance of water. When water is decomposed by radium or the ultra-violet rays of light there are produced hydrogen and peroxide of hvdrogen, but no oxygen. Herr Kernbaum s theory is that some water is being constantly decomposed in this way, and that the hydrogen so formed, being the lightest siibstance known, rises into 'the upper legions of the atmosphere, never to unite with oxygen and return to the earth s surface. Instead, it would gradually be dissipated in space. In this way the earth’s supply of water wou.d constantly diminish. In support of his theory lie cites the unquestioned fact that many parts ot the earth are drier than formerly. lor instance 250 years ago there were 14J iakes in' the canton of Zurich ; now there'are 76; many of these have disappeared without the aid of man. V\ e know that centuries ago a dense population lived in parts of Asia that a.e now desert. „ But there is no immediate cause for ularm; there is enough water but tor some years yet. ___.