A study of the impact of a total solar eclipse (TSE) on surface atmospheric electricity was made using observations of surface electrical potential gradient, conductivity, and boundary layer parameters recorded during the TSE of February 16, 1980, and on a control day at Raichur. The study showed that with the progressing of the eclipse, as a consequence of inhibited convection, the responses of turbulent mixing in the boundary layer near the ground exhibited diminution and subsequent restoration, respectively. During the next 45 min after the totality, when the surface layer remained stably stratified, the diminution in the potential gradient and the increase in the conductivity was maximum; this was about 60% and 200%, respectively, of their corresponding control day values. This result is in very good agreement with most earlier studies of solar eclipses. The study of the impact of the TSE during 3–4 hours of posteclipse showed significant cooling (∼3°C) of the entire surface air layer and a considerable drop in wind speed over the stretch (1130 km×120 km) of the totality-occupied land region. This significant and systematic phenomenon was responsible for setting up a land-sea breezelike circulation, that is, subsidence/downward air motion over the totality-occupied land region and upward over the noneclipsed land across the totality stretch. This resulted in a considerable aerosol-induced reduction in conductivity and about 5 to 8 times increase in potential gradient during the 3–4 hours of posteclipse. This response of the atmospheric electricity parameters was unlike that observed on the normal days.

Anomalous behaviour of electric field in the neighbourhood of totality of solar eclipse

Impact of a total solar eclipse on surface atmospheric electricity

An investigation of the optical response of the atmosphere before, during, and afterthe total solar eclipse of 26 February 1998 at the Caribbean Peninsula of Paraguana (Falcon State) in Venezuela, was made by measuring photometrically the intensity of the sky brightness in three strategic directions: zenith, horizon anti-parallel or opposite the umbra path, and horizon perpendicular to this path. From these measurements, and by applying in an inverse way an empirical photometric model, very rough estimations of theextinction coefficient, and also of the average optical depth, were obtained in one of these particular directions. However based on meteorological measurements such as those of relative humidity and temperature, and applying a different model, a better estimation in the visual of the total global extinction coefficient of the sky (except the horizon), were made considering the contribution of each component: atmospheric aerosol, water vapour, ozone and Rayleigh scattering. It is shown that this global coefficient is mostly dependent upon aerosol extinction. In spite of the strong reduction of sky brightness photometrically observed during the totality, the results show that the sky was not dark. This is confirmed by the results obtained for the total global extinction coefficient. Additionally it is estimated that the total solar eclipse that took place also in Falcon State, Venezuela, at the beginning of the last century on 3 February 1916, was ∼30% darker that the 1998 eclipse, and that atmospheric aerosol played a relevant and similar role in the scattering of sunlight during the totality as it was for 1998's. Visual observations made during each event, which show that at length only one or two bright stars could be seen in the sky, support the results obtained for both eclipses.

Optical Response of the Atmosphere During the Caribbean Total Solar Eclipses of 26 February 1998 and of 3 February 1916 at Falcón state, Venezuela

An examination of decay and growth rates of electric field near the ground during total solar eclipse of 16 February 1980 was made to study the electrical relaxation time and conductivity at Raichur. The Values obtained i.e., 1320 seconds and 67.1163 x 10-16 mhos m-1 of the two parameters were in fair agreement with the reported ones at the rural locations.

Anomalous behaviour of electric field in the neighbourhood of totality of solar eclipse

Citations

Impact of a total solar eclipse on surface atmospheric electricity

Optical Response of the Atmosphere During the Caribbean Total Solar Eclipses of 26 February 1998 and of 3 February 1916 at Falcón state, Venezuela

Relaxation Time and Conductivity at a Rural Station: Raicbur

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