On August 21, 2017, millions of Americans witnessed a total solar eclipse that crossed the entire continental United States for the first time in 99 years. While this event was certainly spectacular to witness, it also provides a unique opportunity for scientists to study the effects of solar eclipses on Earth’s atmosphere. Recent research has revealed that eclipses can have an impact on the dynamics of Earth’s atmosphere, with potential implications for our understanding of climate change.

In a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Reading and the University of Leicester studied the effects of the 2017 eclipse on Earth’s atmosphere. They found that the eclipse caused a significant drop in air temperature, an increase in wind speed, and a decrease in air pressure. The researchers also observed changes in the atmospheric dynamics associated with the eclipse, including a decrease in the strength of the vertical flow of air, as well as a reduction in the vertical movement of moisture. These changes could have implications for the global climate system and how we understand the dynamics of Earth’s atmosphere.

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source: Phys.org