AIR-TEMPERATURE AND WIND CHANGES IN COSTA-RICA DURING THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF JULY 11, 1991

Air temperature and wind measurements on the surface and in the free atmosphere taken during the total solar eclipse of July 11, 1991. are analyzed. Surface air temperature decreased significantly, 2 to 5-degrees-C in general. with the lowest values occurring 10 to 30 minutes after totality. In some places, surface wind speed decreased gradually during the eclipse, as a result of the decrease of air temperature and temperature gradients. In other places, it increased due to local atmospheric conditions. A radiosonde launched at 13:26 LT (local time) appeared to have been affected by the moon's shadow at about 13 km height. At this altitude temperature was relatively lower than usual and the balloon carrying the radiosonde experienced an upward acceleration. Also at this altitude wind direction changed and wind speed decreased