Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 24, 2026
09:55
Surface Renewal: An Advanced Micrometeorological Method for Measuring and Processing Field-Scale Energy Flux Density Data
Published on: December 12, 2013
8.6K
Characterizing the Impacts of 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Using New York State Mesonet Data
Junhong Wang1, Aiguo Dai2, Chau-Lam Yu1
1New York State Mesonet SUNY University at Albany Albany NY USA.
Geophysical Research Letters
|November 25, 2024
Summary
A total solar eclipse (TSE) in New York caused significant surface cooling and atmospheric changes. The planetary boundary layer (PBL) shallowed and moistened, while CO2 levels rose due to reduced photosynthesis.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric Science
- Geophysics
- Environmental Science
Background:
- A rare total solar eclipse (TSE) occurred over New York State (NYS) on April 8, 2024, the first since 1925.
- The NYS Mesonet (NYSM) network provided extensive data during the event.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impacts of the TSE on the surface, planetary boundary layer (PBL), and CO2 concentrations using NYSM data.
- To characterize atmospheric and surface flux changes during the TSE.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 55 NYS Mesonet weather stations located within the TSE totality path.
- Analyzed surface temperature, wind, humidity, heat fluxes, and CO2 concentrations before, during, and after the TSE.
Main Results:
- Peak surface cooling averaged 2.8°C (max 6.8°C) 17 minutes post-totality.
- Observed night-like surface inversions, calm winds, PBL shallowing, and moistening.
- Decreased sensible, latent, and ground heat fluxes; increased near-surface CO2 due to reduced photosynthesis.
Conclusions:
- The TSE significantly altered surface energy balance and PBL dynamics.
- Reduced solar radiation during the TSE led to measurable atmospheric and biospheric responses.
Related Concept Videos
01:50Global Climate Change
24.3K
Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
24.3K
02:06Newman Projections
16.7K
Different notations are used to represent the three-dimensional structure of molecules on two-dimensional surfaces. One of the most commonly used representations is the dash-wedge formula. The dashed wedges, solid wedges, and the plane lines indicate the groups situated behind the plane, coming out of the plane, and in the plane, respectively.
The organic molecules rotate across the single bonds leading to numerous temporary three-dimensional structures of varying energy known as...
The organic molecules rotate across the single bonds leading to numerous temporary three-dimensional structures of varying energy known as...
16.7K
01:28Magnetostatic Boundary Conditions
1.9K
An electric field suffers a discontinuity at a surface charge. Similarly, a magnetic field is discontinuous at a surface current. The perpendicular component of a magnetic field is continuous across the interface of two magnetic mediums. In contrast, its parallel component, perpendicular to the current, is discontinuous by the amount equal to the product of the vacuum permeability and the surface current. Like the scalar potential in electrostatics, the vector potential is also continuous...
1.9K
01:17Precipitation and Co-precipitation
4.8K
Precipitation and coprecipitation methods can be used to separate a mixture of ions in a solution. In qualitative inorganic analysis, ions that form sparingly soluble precipitates with the same reagent are separated based on the differences in solubility products. For example, consider the separation of Cu(II) and Fe(II) ions by precipitation as insoluble sulfides. First, copper(II) sulfide is precipitated by the addition of acidic H2S, where the dissociation of H2S is suppressed. Adding H2S...
4.8K
01:26Influence of Earth's Curvature and Atmospheric Refraction on Leveling
1.3K
During leveling, the Earth's curvature and atmospheric refraction introduce deviations in the line of sight from a true horizontal reference. When the line of sight is leveled, it remains perpendicular to the plumb line only at a single point. Beyond this, it deviates due to the Earth’s curvature, represented by the correction C. For a sight distance D, the deviation can be derived using the relationship:This relationship shows that the deviation increases quadratically with distance.
1.3K
01:19Magnetic Declination
772
Magnetic declination is the angle between true north, which aligns with the Earth's rotational axis, and magnetic north, which follows the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. This discrepancy exists because the magnetic poles do not coincide with the geographic poles. The value of magnetic declination depends on the observer's location on Earth and is subject to changes over time due to the dynamic nature of the Earth's magnetic field.The declination is called eastern when magnetic north...
772