Jennings Center collects, releases environmental data on eclipse
The solar eclipse was more than a week ago, but researchers from across the affected area are still collecting and processing data on how the event affected the sun, the earth and the atmosphere.
Some of those researchers are from the Jennings Environmental Education Center. On April 8, the day of the eclipse, a group of four researchers collected all sorts of information using small scientific instruments and an iPad.
The intention was to measure how the eclipse would impact plant and animal behavior as well as weather patterns. IPads were used to record audio samples of bird calls. Other instruments such as gas sensors and weather meters were employed to measure temperature, oxygen concentration and photosynthesis.
The researchers hypothesized that during the eclipse, oxygen levels would decrease and carbon dioxide levels would increase, while temperature decreased, relative humidity increased, and birds sang more often.
When the researchers pored over their data, they were surprised by the results of their photosynthesis study.
“We expected that oxygen would go down during maximum, because oxygen is given off during photosynthesis, which should slow down with less sun,” said program coordinator Miranda Crotsley. “But it actually went up. CO2 also went up.”
The researchers also found that the eclipse had tangible effects on the weather. Measurements showed that the temperature at Jennings decreased from 70 degrees by 2:50 p.m. to 64 degrees shortly before 3:30 p.m., which was shortly after the peak of the eclipse. Relative humidity also increased during this time.
In addition, bird call activity plummeted during the peak of the eclipse, and increased dramatically after it receded.
The researchers also measured light wavelengths before, during and after the eclipse. The proportions of red and blue light at the measuring site fluctuated dramatically at the eclipse’s peak, with blue light spiking during the eclipse and returning to normal afterward.
“We were surprised to see the blue and red wavelengths change so dramatically,” Crotsley said.
The group has passed their findings on oxygen and CO2 concentration along to a professor of plant biology at Penn State University for further study.
