Effects of the solar eclipse of August 1, 2008, on the earth’s lower atmosphere

The paper presents results of optical observations and analysis of dynamics of effects on the earth’s lower atmosphere of the partial solar eclipse (of magnitude 42%) of August 1, 2008, near Kharkov. This is compared with the effects induced by the partial solar eclipses on August 11, 1999, and October 3, 2005. All three eclipses occurred around midday. The standard deviation of the solar-limb displacement σ S during the eclipses on October 3, 2005, August 1, 2008, and August 11, 1999, was established to decrease by 0.13, 0.30, and 0.68″ at the maximum of the solar obscuration function 0.13, 0.31, and 0.73, respectively, so that the temperature drop in the earth’s lower atmosphere t a was 1.3, 2.0, and 7.3 K. The time lags of decreases of σ S and t a was found to be 15 and 5 minutes.