The Strange Sensory Theater of a Total Solar Eclipse

First comes relief from the sunlight. Then, depending on the season and location, comes the realization that the air itself has changed. Surface temperatures measured during eclipses have fallen anywhere from roughly 1 to 10 degrees Celsius, with dry and sunny locations often showing the clearest response. The lowest reading does not necessarily occur at the instant of maximum eclipse. Soil, pavement, vegetation, and nearby buildings release stored warmth, creating a delay before the atmosphere reaches its coolest point.