Space

Solar Eclipse Changes The Temperature Of The Atmosphere, How Will This Affect Mankind?

Alex Davis
First Posted: Aug 29, 2016 05:21 AM EDT

A solar eclipse appeared from the skies and was witnessed by an astronomer centuries ago; he felt that there's a "ghostly" change of weather. Experts have been trying to find answers of what caused the so-called eclipse wind. Will scientists today solve the mystery? 

According to Phys.Org.Com, a Solar Eclipse occurred 301 years ago. A change of atmosphere happened and it was described as cold and damp. English astronomer Edmund Halley witnessed the phenomenon. Dated back, Halley could not figure out what was the cause of the "eclipse wind."

As such, a partial eclipse also happened in UK last March 20, 2015, and was witnessed by many. The University of Reading gathered scientists to measure the partial eclipse's meteorological effects. A team of 4,500 meteorologists set up weather stations and roadside weather sensors. As recorded by the experts, there was indeed a change of weather, the wind loosens and the atmosphere is chilly.

Reports were gathered and were analyzed, atmospheric physicist Giles Harrison explained, as reported by E Scientific News.com, "As the sun disappears behind the moon, the ground suddenly cools, just like at sunset. This means warm air stops rising from the ground, causing a drop in wind speed and a shift in its direction, as the slowing of the air by Earth's surface changes." The change in wind speed has been reduced, not exactly the "horror" type, albeit still, it is a great event.

A lot of theories regarding the change of weather have been scattering, so far this is the most constraining explanation yet. Harrison added his gratitude to the thousands of scientists that gathered data and contributed to their research with regards to the eclipse's mysterious change of atmosphere. The mystery that happened centuries ago was solved.

In line with Harrison's findings, according to Science Alert, astronomer Royal Arnold Wolfendale from the University of Sheffield confirms the study of Harrison. His research also shows that UK indeed drops temperature with a 9 percent difference, during the partial eclipse.

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