During a solar eclipse, the amazing sight of the Moon passing in front of the Sun captivates us, but its impact on our planet goes beyond just darkness. Surprisingly, clouds dissipate rapidly once just 15 percent of the Sun is obscured, affecting particularly shallow cumulus clouds over land. This discovery has implications for climate engineering efforts, as fewer clouds could counteract the desired cooling effects. Through innovative methods, researchers studied cloud behavior during eclipses and found that sunlight blocking leads to cooling, inhibiting the formation of cumulus clouds. This could have negative consequences on weather patterns, necessitating further exploration. Published in Communications Earth & Environment, the research sheds light on the complex relationship between eclipses, clouds, and climate engineering.
https://www.sciencealert.com/clouds-vanish-during-a-solar-eclipse-and-we-finally-know-why