Eclipses Give Scientists Keys to Earth and the Sun

On August 12, day turned to dusk across Greenland, Iceland and Spain as the moon slid across the sun. Millions of people gazed upward, while scientists raced to capture images and collect data from jets and weather balloons. For them, this event is far more than a rare sight; it opens a window to investigate the phenomena on Earth as well as the connection between the sun and our planet.

For scientists, the solar eclipse gives scientists was/presented a rare chance to examine the link between the sun and Earth. Normally, the sun’s overwhelming brightness hides its dimmer outer atmosphere, which is the corona. During an eclipse, the moon blocks a huge part of the sun’s bright surface, exposing the corona, whose shape is controlled by the sun’s magnetic field. Since this magnetic field drives solar activity that travels toward our planet, observing the corona lets researchers better understand how the sun influences Earth. “The sun impacts our daily life, satellites and astronauts in space, and we can take advantage of this moment to advance our understanding of that influence,” said Kelly Korreck, the eclipse program manager at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Even before the eclipse began, scientists had made predictions about the shape of the corona. Matching these predictions to real-time observations can help scientists to test and enrich their understanding of the sun’s magnetic field and optimize their predictions of the space weather. While the unpredictable magnetic field determines the corona’s shape, it also drives solar wind, solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which send materials from the sun into space.

To capture valuable data during the shortlived eclipse, NASA relies on observation tools. Research jets carry special cameras to capture detailed images of the sun’s corona, and weather balloons are sent into the path of totality—the area where the moon completely blocks the sun. These balloons help researchers study how the atmosphere reacts to the sudden darkness brought by the eclipse. For instance, the sudden loss of sunlight can lower local air temperatures and shrink the height of Earth’s lowest atmospheric boundary layer.

Meanwhile, other regional research teams also ran studies during the eclipse. In Iceland, researchers launched 80 weather balloons before, during and after the event to record the eclipse’s effect on Earth’s atmospheric boundary layer by creating a continuous timeline. Teams in Spain released balloons carrying 360-degree cameras and sensors to track shifts in ozone production.

Astronomical research is not limited to professional experts since citizen scientists in Spain also take advantage of upcoming eclipses to observe animal behavior. More than 200 participants in the TriEclipse Project will record behavioral changes of local wildlife over the next 18 months. They document how creatures respond to unexpected daytime darkness, such as seeking shelter, feeling sleepy or becoming agitated. “For me, perhaps the most exciting part is actually the people taking part and the sense that all of us can contribute to something beautiful together,” noted Mr. GarcíaRojo.