Satellite observations of surface temperature during the March 2015 total solar eclipse

Area of Science:

• Earth Observation
• Atmospheric Science
• Remote Sensing

Background:

• Total solar eclipses cause temporary reductions in solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface.
• Land surface temperature (LST) is a key variable influenced by surface energy balance.
• Previous studies have documented localized temperature drops during eclipses, but comprehensive satellite-based analyses are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the behavior of remotely sensed LST during the 20 March 2015 total solar eclipse over Europe.
• To quantify the relationship between LST drop and factors such as solar obscuration, eclipse duration, and time.
• To investigate local variations in LST drop related to surface characteristics like vegetation, proximity to coast, and elevation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized land surface temperature (LST) data from the Spinning-Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI).
• Analyzed LST changes during the 20 March 2015 total solar eclipse across Europe.
• Correlated LST drop magnitude with solar obscuration, eclipse duration, time, vegetation cover, coastal proximity, and elevation.

Main Results:

• LST decreased by up to several degrees Celsius during the eclipse, with minimums occurring shortly after the midpoint.
• The LST drop was generally larger than concurrent near-surface air temperature drops.
• LST drop magnitude showed significant correlations with solar obscuration (r=-0.47), eclipse duration (r=-0.62), and time (r=+0.37).
• Vegetation cover (up to r=+0.6), coastal proximity, and elevation influenced the localized LST drop, with less impact on vegetated, coastal, or higher-elevation areas.

Conclusions:

• Satellite-derived LST provides a robust measure of surface temperature response to solar eclipses.
• The study provides the most extensive characterization to date of satellite LST during an eclipse.
• The methodology can be applied to analyze LST data from other geostationary satellites, such as GOES, during future eclipses.