Observations of temperature and air humidity during the total solar eclipse 29 March 2006 at Side, Turkey

Abstract

Air temperature and relative humidity were measured during the total solar eclipse 29 March 2006 at Side, Turkey (N36°45.95′; E31°23.71′) at screen height. The temperature was reduced by 5.0°C from the start of the eclipse until totality and increased by 4.3°C after totality. An overestimation of the temperature drop during the eclipse due to a radiation effect on the temperature measurement of ∼0.5°C cannot be excluded. The relative humidity followed an inverse pattern compared to air temperature during the eclipse. In contrast, the vapour pressure varied little during the eclipse and did not appear to be systematically affected by the eclipse conditions.