Measuring Atmospheric Changes During the April 8^th, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Using a Series of Compact Weather Sensors

A rapid reduction in light levels from the sun and the associated changes in local temperature and pressure may result in the setup of convection currents in the atmosphere producing a potential effect known as the ‘Eclipse Wind’ (a breeze setup during a total eclipse), along with other atmospheric effects.

While detections of atmospheric variations have been reported during prior total eclipse events, opportunities to confirm these observations or place constraints on their effects are rare. This is primarily due to the infrequent nature of total eclipse events and/or their variation in geographical location.

Our goal in this study was to capitalize on the continuous spatial coverage of the 2024 Great North American total eclipse to search for evidence of the eclipse wind, measure its effects and extent, and look for signs of any other atmospheric changes caused by the passage of the moon’s shadow across the USA during the eclipse.

Our sensor packages were designed and developed Gannon University’s physics Labs and subsequently placed at seven geographically separate locations across North America from Texas to upstate New York to record atmospheric conditions along the line of totality as the moon’s shadow moved across the continent.

I will discuss the development, operation and deployment of our series of relatively low-cost atmospheric science packages comprised of a sonic anemometer and supplementary atmospheric sensors, as well as a GPS. I will also present the results of this study showing the effect of the eclipse on light level, wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric pressure and humidity.