The Deflection of Light during a Solar Eclipse

Abstract

THERE can scarcely be a downward rush of cold air in places deprived of the sun's radiation during an eclipse as suggested by Prof. Anderson. This would happen only if the upper layers of the atmosphere were cooled more than the lower, and if the cooling were sufficient to bring the temperature-gradient near to the adiabatic. As it is, however, the effect of an eclipse should be to cool the lower layers more than the upper, and so to decrease the temperature-gradient. Moreover, if cooling caused convection movements, we should have upward currents as well as downward, and a development of cumulus clouds would result from the passage of the moon's shadow.