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Updated: Mar 16, 2026
08:54
Measurements of Waves in a Wind-wave Tank Under Steady and Time-varying Wind Forcing
Published on: February 13, 2018
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Eclipse-induced wind changes over the British Isles on the 20 March 2015.
1Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, PO Box 243, Reading RG6 6BB, UK s.l.gray@reading.ac.uk.
Summary
Solar eclipses cause cooling and increased humidity. They also slightly reduce wind speed and shift wind direction, consistent with boundary layer stabilization and new sunset analogy explanations.
Area of Science:
- Meteorology
- Atmospheric Science
- Solar Physics
Background:
- Dense meteorological networks in the British Isles offer opportunities to study solar eclipse impacts.
- Previous research on solar eclipses' effects on the near-surface wind field remains incomplete.
- The 2015 UK solar eclipse provided a unique event for such investigations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the near-surface wind field changes during the 20 March 2015 solar eclipse.
- To compare model predictions with observational data to understand eclipse effects.
- To propose a new explanation for observed wind direction changes.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of Met Office weather forecast model output (eclipse-ignorant) with data from the MIDAS land surface network and a Vaisala roadside network.
- Synoptic-evolution relative calculations to analyze meteorological changes.
- Analysis of wind speed and direction variations under clear skies.
Main Results:
- Confirmed universal cooling and increased relative humidity during the eclipse.
- Observed wind speed slackening (up to 2 knots) in weak winds and a 20° wind direction backing across middle England.
- Wind speed changes align with boundary layer stabilization theory.
- Proposed a novel explanation for wind direction changes by analogy with nocturnal sunset transitions.
Conclusions:
- The 2015 solar eclipse demonstrably influenced near-surface wind fields.
- Observed effects include cooling, humidity increase, wind speed reduction, and directional shifts.
- The proposed analogy to sunset wind changes offers a plausible explanation for observed directional shifts.
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