Incredible: Total Solar Eclipse Huge for Scientists. Here’s Why
When an uncommon total solar eclipse passes over North America next Monday, scientists will have the opportunity to collect invaluable information ranging from the Sun’s atmosphere to peculiar animal behaviors, and even potential impacts on humans.
During the Sun’s near-peak activity in its 11-year solar cycle, an awe-inspiring sight awaits: the corona will illuminate magnificently around the Moon’s shadow along the path of totality, extending from Mexico to Canada through the United States.
NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy emphasized the “remarkable scientific opportunities” presented by total solar eclipses during a recent press briefing on the celestial phenomenon.
The US space agency, among other institutions, is prepared for the eclipse, intending to launch “sounding rockets” to investigate its impact on Earth’s upper atmosphere.
Below are insights into what researchers are aiming to discover during the forthcoming eclipse:
Solar atmosphere
“When the Moon aligns directly in front of the Sun, obscuring it, the elusive outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona, will become visible ‘in a unique manner,’ stated Melroy.
‘There are phenomena occurring within the corona that remain partially understood,’ she added.
Despite the corona’s heat increasing with distance from the Sun’s surface—a concept that contradicts intuition—scientists are still grappling to fully grasp or elucidate this phenomenon.
Solar flares, sudden bursts of energy that emit radiation into space, occur within the corona, as do solar prominences, massive plasma structures that extend out from the Sun’s surface.
During an eclipse, the lowermost section of the corona—where much of this activity transpires—is more distinctly observable compared to using specialized instruments that block the Sun’s central portion. This presents a valuable opportunity for study, as mentioned by Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.
Researchers are particularly excited about the Sun nearing the zenith of its 11-year cycle.
‘The likelihood of witnessing something extraordinary is quite high,’ remarked Melroy.”
Atmosphere of Earth
The total eclipse will provide scientists with an opportunity to investigate alterations in a segment of Earth’s upper atmosphere referred to as the ionosphere. This is significant as it influences radio waves utilized for communication and navigation.
“Disruptions in this region can lead to complications with GPS and communication systems,” noted Kelly Korreck, the eclipse program manager at NASA headquarters.
The complete solar eclipse offers scientists a chance to explore changes in a portion of Earth’s upper atmosphere called the ionosphere. This is crucial because it impacts radio waves used in communication and navigation.
Kelly Korreck, the eclipse program manager at NASA headquarters, highlighted that disturbances in this area could result in challenges with GPS and communication networks.
Behaviors of animals
During eclipses, observers have noted surprising animal behavior: Giraffes have been observed sprinting, while roosters and crickets may begin crowing and chirping.
In addition to the decrease in sunlight, temperatures and wind, factors that animals are sensitive to, can also drop significantly during an eclipse.
Andrew Farnsworth, a ornithology researcher at Cornell University in New York state, investigates the impact of eclipses on birds, using weather surveillance radar to monitor birds in flight.
During the most recent total solar eclipse visible from the United States in August 2017, scientists noticed a “reduction in the number of animals flying around,” Farnsworth informed reporters.
The eclipse in 2017 disturbed the typical routines of insects and birds, yet it did not prompt typical nocturnal behaviors in animals, such as bird migrations or bat activity, according to the expert.
This time, birds might show inclination towards migration during the eclipse, especially given that it takes place in April, he remarked.
“These patterns are significant for comprehending how animals interpret their environments,” Farnsworth remarked.
Human fascination
“Eclipses possess a unique influence, evoking a sense of reverence towards the magnificence of our cosmos,” remarked NASA Administrator Bill Nelson during discussions with journalists.
In 2017, scholars investigated this profound sense of wonder, analyzing information from almost three million Twitter users, referred to as X presently.
Individuals situated within the designated “path of totality,” where the Moon completely obscures the Sun, displayed a tendency to employ the pronoun “we” instead of “I” and demonstrated a heightened concern for others, as outlined by Paul Piff, a psychology professor at the University of California, Irvine.
“What we’re discovering is that encounters evoking awe… appear to align individuals and foster connections among us, linking us to entities of greater magnitude,” stated Piff.
This year, he intends to investigate whether such experiences influence political divisions within society.
Citizen scientists
Around 40 projects involving citizen scientists are scheduled for the eclipse, ranging from utilizing a smartphone application to log temperature and cloud cover to capturing ambient noise during the phenomenon.
“We urge you to assist NASA in observing the phenomena and sounds in your vicinity,” Nelson emphasized.
Read the original article on: Science Alert
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