Solar eclipse: 8 strange phenomena that may occur – Fox News explains

The rare phenomenon of a total solar eclipse could lead to some strange events here on Earth.

The solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 is expected to be visible in 15 American states.

What can Americans expect to happen in heaven as well as on earth?

The eight strange phenomena that can occur during a total solar eclipse

Here are eight strange things that can happen during a solar eclipse.

Billy beads

Bailey's beads are a strange phenomenon that occurs when the moon comes close to the sun during a solar eclipse.

This phenomenon, which can be observed safely with appropriate glasses, is a streak of light at the edge of the eclipse, often referred to as the diamond ring effect.

Johns Hopkins University astrophysicist Dr. Hans said that when the moon covers the sun or begins to reveal it, viewers may be able to see this “interesting phenomenon.” Bill Blair at Fox News Digital.

In “the phenomenon known as Bailey's beads… the Sun can peek through the lunar valleys along the edge of the Moon,” he said.

Eclipse observers can maximize their chances of seeing such phenomena by traveling along the “edge” of the total eclipse zone, Blair said.

Animal behavior

During a solar eclipse, wildlife species react as if day had suddenly turned into night.

During an eclipse, animals and birds often prepare for sleep or act confused, according to the University of Dallas.

The animals' physical and auditory behavior will change during the eclipse, National Geographic notes in an article.

“Early darkness disrupts the animals' circadian rhythms, creating a potential chorus of owls, crickets, or even coyotes, depending on the location,” NatGeo wrote.

Because of this expected change in sound, NASA launched the Eclipse Soundscapes Project, urging eclipse viewers to pay attention and record differences in animal behavior in their area.

“Reports of these atypical animal behaviors go back centuries, but the effects of the eclipse on plant and animal life are not fully understood,” NASA wrote in an article.

Strange shadows

The changing direction of sunlight can cast some very strange shadows on the Earth.

Blair said the light filtering through tree leaves leaves crescent-shaped shadows as the total eclipse approaches.

Only during a total eclipse can special shadow areas be seen a few seconds before the phenomenon.

NASA noted that shadow bands can appear on monochromatic surfaces as thin, wavy lines of alternating light and dark.

This phenomenon is similar to the shine of a swimming pool.

This is said to be due to the “pinhole camera” effect, which works by allowing light to pass through a small hole in the screen. The same phenomenon occurs when light from an eclipse passes through tree leaves. During an eclipse, not every ray of light can pass to Earth, only rays that are at a certain angle remain.

Cold weather

The weather during a solar eclipse can change quickly.

The University of Dallas said local temperatures could drop by more than 10 degrees near the eclipse.

This is because when the sunlight fades, the weather begins to cool.

NASA stated The 2001 eclipse in Zambia caused the air temperature to drop by about 10 degrees.

Strong wind

In addition to temperature changes, a solar eclipse can also bring about stormy weather.

A 2016 study from the University of Reading found that eclipse events can increase wind speeds and change wind directions.

“When the sun disappears behind the moon, the Earth suddenly cools, just as it does at sunset,” Giles Harrison, a professor at the University of Reading, wrote in a press release.

“This means that warm air stops rising from the ground, causing the wind speed to decrease and its direction to change, as the deceleration of the air above the Earth’s surface changes.”

Radio interference

Eclipse events are known to disrupt radio frequencies.

NASA said this was due to “a sudden decrease in solar radiation reaching the Earth's atmosphere.”

“Because the ionosphere contains charged particles (ions and electrons) and is responsible for the reflection and refraction of radio waves, changes in the ionosphere can also affect radio communications and navigation systems,” NASA wrote in an article.

NASA said this change in the ionosphere could change the way radio waves “propagate,” potentially causing signal attenuation, absorption and refraction.

Solar protrusions

Solar prominences are rare, but they may appear during a solar eclipse.

With appropriate safety glasses, viewers may be able to spot the solar corona emerging from behind the moon's shadow.

The effect will look like flower petals surrounding the moon.

These bulges form rings hundreds of thousands of kilometers long in space, and scientists are still investigating how and why they form.

View other planets

Since the moon will shade the sunlight, it is possible to see some stars and other planets.

The Planetary Society reports that Venus may appear bright to the right or below the right of the Sun.

Jupiter, which will appear fainter, can be seen to the left or upper left of the Sun.

What appears will depend on weather conditions at each location, but the brightest astronomical elements will have the best chance of appearing, according to Live Science.

source: Fox News