As the moon obscures the Sun in a solar eclipse, not only do animals react, but research indicates a change in cloud activity.
In the upcoming April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse, Dutch research brings good news: cumulus clouds swiftly dissipate due to ground cooling.
Cumulus Clouds Disappear During Solar Eclipses
Researchers from Delft University of Technology and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute have uncovered a rapid disappearance of cumulus clouds over land during partial solar eclipses. Previously, satellite measurements faced challenges due to inaccurate algorithms that did not consider the decrease in sunlight during eclipses.
The study, titled "Clouds dissipate quickly during solar eclipses as the land surface cools" published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment, reveals that a new method successfully restored reliable satellite measurements during solar eclipses. By accounting for the percentage of obscured sunlight, the researchers observed cumulus clouds dissipating at just 15% solar obscuration, with a return to normal post-eclipse.
While solar eclipse effects have been studied for centuries, the specific reaction of clouds remains unknown. Lead author Victor Trees emphasized the limitations of anecdotal evidence and highlighted the constant dynamic nature of clouds even without eclipses.
Satellites in geostationary orbit play a crucial role in cloud measurements across vast areas, including inaccessible terrain. However, during solar eclipses, unreliable measurements arose due to algorithm deficiencies.
The recent breakthrough involves accurate calculations of the sun's obscured percentage at each Earth location and time during an eclipse. This correction allows satellites to receive enough reflected sunlight during partial eclipses, enabling reliable cloud measurements.
Analyzing recovered cloud maps from three solar eclipses over Africa, researchers noted cumulus clouds disappearing at 15% solar obscuration, a behavior absent on non-eclipse days. The Dutch cloud model DALES successfully simulated the disappearance and reappearance of clouds, explaining that rising air is immediately affected during partial eclipses over land.
Over the sea, clouds remain unaffected as seawater does not cool down rapidly. The study provides valuable insights into cloud behavior during eclipses, advancing our understanding of their impact on Earth's atmosphere.
Discovery's Impact on Climate Engineering
The findings have implications for proposed climate engineering strategies, suggesting that the disappearance of clouds during artificial solar eclipses could partially counteract the intended cooling effects. Strategies to mitigate climate change involve blocking some of the Sun's rays, potentially reducing temperatures, although the broader consequences remain uncertain.
Artificial methods for cooling the Earth, such as deploying reflective solar sails or releasing aerosols into the stratosphere, imitate the subtle effects of a solar eclipse. The research indicates a notable reduction in clouds during partial eclipses, raising concerns about potential disruptions to climate engineering initiatives.
The involvement of technological solutions that eclipse the sun may interfere with cloud dynamics, jeopardizing the desired cooling effects, given the crucial role clouds play in reflecting sunlight and cooling the Earth.
Moreover, the study underscores the sensitivity of clouds to solar eclipses, underscoring the need for further research into the potential repercussions of artificial shadows on cloud behavior.
The swift disappearance of cumulus clouds during a solar eclipse, linked to declining air temperatures, illuminates the intricate interplay among climate engineering proposals, cloud dynamics, and the broader climate system.
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