In a few short days, on April 8, 2024, parts of North America will experience temporary daytime darkness as the Moon passes in front of the Sun. Over 30 million people in North America will witness the event; those in Regina can expect to see 51.0% coverage beginning at 11:51am, peak at 12:53pm and end around 1:56pm, while Calgary can expect a 37 % coverage beginning at 11:48am and Edmonton a 34% coverage at 11:54am.
This once-in-a-lifetime event could even cause birds to fall silent, crickets to start chirping, and send bees back to their hives, fooled by the sudden darkness.
To better understand what happens to animals during an eclipse, NASA has funded the Eclipse Soundscapes Project, which will document the sights and sounds during the total solar eclipse. Volunteers can join and contribute to the project by recording sounds, making observations, and assisting in data analysis. The project aims to build upon a historical study conducted after a 1932 eclipse. To get involved and learn more about the Eclipse Soundscapes Project, visit the Eclipse Soundscapes website.
In addition to unusual animal behavior, in the past, regions have experienced eclipse-induced wind pattern changes. A 2016 study found that an eclipse of any kind—total, annular, or partial— can cause the wind to start blowing in another direction.
If you will be in a region that will experience darkness, take a jacket when you head outside. During totality, it isn’t uncommon for temperatures to fall, sometimes as much as 12 degrees Celsius.
If you want to watch the eclipse as it happens but won’t be in area of the province or country that will see it, you can always watch it on YouTube where The Weather Channel will be live streaming the event.
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