Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics www.atmos-chem-phys.net 1680-7316 1680-7324 8 17 2008 10.5194/acp-8-5205-2008 http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/5205/2008/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/5205/2008/acp-8-5205-2008.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/5205/2008/acp-8-5205-2008.pdf 5205 5220 2008-09-03 The total solar eclipse of March 2006: overview E. Gerasopoulos egera@meteo.noa.gr C. S. Zerefos I. Tsagouri D. Founda V. Amiridis A. F. Bais A. Belehaki N. Christou G. Economou M. Kanakidou A. Karamanos M. Petrakis P. Zanis National Observatory of Athens, V. Pavlou and I. Metaxa, P. Penteli, 15236, Athens, Greece Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Physics Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Athens, Greece Laboratory of Agronomy, Faculty of Plant Production, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens Greece University of Crete, Chemistry Department, Environmental and Chemical Processes Laboratory, Crete, Greece Department of Meteorology and Climatology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece This paper provides the overview of an integrated, multi-disciplinary effort to study the effects of the 29 March 2006 total solar eclipse on the environment, with special focus on the atmosphere. The eclipse has been visible over the Eastern Mediterranean, and on this occasion several research and academic institutes organised co-ordinated experimental campaigns, at different distances from eclipse totality and at various environments in terms of air quality. Detailed results and findings are presented in a number of component scientific papers included in a Special Issue of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. The effects of the eclipse on meteorological parameters, though very clear, were shown to be controlled by local factors rather than the eclipse magnitudes, and the turbulence activity near surface was suppressed causing a decrease in the Planetary Boundary Layer. In addition to the above, the decrease in solar radiation has caused change to the photochemistry of the atmosphere, with night time chemistry dominating. The abrupt "switch off" of the sun, induced changes also in the ionosphere (140 up to 220 km) and the stratosphere. In the ionosphere, both photochemistry and dynamics resulted to changes in the reflection heights and the electron concentrations. 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