Investigating the Effects of the Solar Eclipse on the Atmosphere over Land and Oceanic Regions: Observations from Ground Stations and COSMIC2 Data

The impacts of the solar eclipse that occurred on 8 April 2024 over the United States on various atmospheric parameters are investigated. We analyzed surface and vertical profiles of temperature and humidity to understand how this eclipse affected the atmosphere from the ground to the stratosphere. Our findings show a significant response throughout the atmospheric range. The eclipse caused a decrease in shortwave radiation, leading to cooler Earth surfaces and a subsequent drop in surface temperature. This cooling effect also resulted in high relative humidity and lower wind speeds at the surface. Furthermore, GPS radio occultation data from COSMIC-2 revealed a decrease in tropospheric temperature and increase in stratospheric temperature during the eclipse. We also observed a reduction in both the temperature and height of the tropopause. The uniqueness of the present investigations lies in delineating the solar eclipse’s effects on the land and ocean. Our analysis indicates that land regions experienced a more pronounced temperature change compared to ocean regions.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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