Abstract/Summary

Solar eclipses are not of merely astronomical interest, as they provide a predictable transient reduction in the energy source driving the atmosphere and weather systems. Changes in surface air temperature have been measured since 1834 with wind speed and direction subsequently studied, most notably during the 1900 US eclipse. These studies led to theories associating wind speed and direction changes, which, as different eclipse have produced different effects, have not been without controversy. Here, these theories are developed further using observations from the UK eclipses of 1999 and 2015 and detailed weather prediction models. These show that near-surface wind effects during eclipses can result from changes in structure of the lowest part of the atmosphere.