Eclipse events can cause weird weather conditions, radio interference and changes in animal behavior
A rare occurrence in orbit could lead to some strange happenings here on Earth.
The North American solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, is expected to hit totality in 15 U.S. states.
What can Americans expect to happen in the sky as well as on the ground?
SOLAR ECLIPSE 2024: WHERE AND HOW TO VIEW THE RARE ORBIT HITTING THE US
Here are eight weird things that could happen during a solar eclipse.
1. Baily’s beads
Baily’s beads is a strange effect that occurs as the moon closes in on the sun during a solar eclipse.
The phenomenon, viewed safely with proper eyewear, is a sliver of light at the edge of the eclipse, often referred to as the Diamond Ring Effect.
Just as the moon covers or begins to uncover the sun, onlookers might be able to view this “interesting edge effect,” Johns Hopkins University astrophysicist Dr. Bill Blair told Fox News Digital.
In “the phenomenon known as ‘Baily’s beads’ … the sun can actually peak through lunar valleys right along the edge of the moon’s limb,” he said.
Eclipse viewers can maximize their chances of seeing effects like this by traveling along the “edge” of the total eclipse zone, Blair suggested.
2. Animal behavior
During a solar eclipse, wildlife species have reacted as if day suddenly turned to night.
During an eclipse, local animals and birds often “prepare for sleep or behave confusedly,” according to the University of Dallas.
Both physical and auditory animal behaviors will shift during the eclipse, National Geographic noted in an article.
“The early onset of darkness disrupts animals’ circadian rhythms, sparking a possible chorus of owl hoots, cricket chirps or even coyote calls, depending on the eclipse-viewing location,” NatGeo wrote.
Because of this expected shift in sound, NASA has released its Eclipse Soundscapes Project, prompting eclipse viewers to pay attention and record differences in animal behaviors in their area.
“Reports of these atypical animal behaviors date back centuries, but the effects of an eclipse on plant and animal life are not fully understood,” NASA wrote in an article.
“The NASA-funded Eclipse Soundscapes Project will collect the sights and sounds of a total solar eclipse with help from interested members of the public to better understand how an eclipse affects different ecosystems.”
3. Strange shadows
The changing orientation of the sun’s light can cast some pretty cool shadows on Earth.
Light that filters through the leaves of trees has been observed to leave crescent-shaped shadows as eclipse totality closes in, Blair shared.
NASA also recommends the use of a pinhole projector to view images of the crescent sun.
These pinhole cameras can also be used during the partial phases of the eclipse instead of wearing protective glasses, according to Blair.
“Even more impressive, if you have a colander or a big soup spoon with small holes in it, hold it up, and you will get a whole bunch of little eclipses,” he said.
During total eclipses only, special shadow bands can be seen in the seconds before totality.
Shadow bands can show up across plain-colored surfaces, appearing as thin, wavy lines of alternating light and dark, as NASA noted.
The effect is similar to the sheen of a swimming pool.
4. Colder weather
The weather during a solar eclipse could change rather quickly.
Local temperatures could drop more than 20 degrees near eclipse totality, the University of Dallas said.
This is because when sunlight fades, the weather starts to cool down.
NASA reported that a 2001 eclipse in Zambia dropped the air temperature by nearly 15 degrees.
Source : https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/solar-eclipse-2024-8-strange-things-rare-event
