Annular Solar Eclipse on 26 December 2019 and its Effect on Trace Pollutant Concentrations and Meteorological Parameters in Kannur, India: a Coastal City.

This paper highlights the variations of surface ozone (O₃), total column ozone (TCO), oxides of nitrogen (NO and NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), ammonia (NH₃), volatile organic compounds (Benzene, Tolune, Ethyle Benzene, Xylenes (collectively called BTEX)), particulate matters (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5), and meteorological parameters at the time of an annular solar eclipse on 26 December 2019 at Kannur town in Kerala, South India. The maximum solar obscuration has resulted a decrease in solar radiation by 93%, air temperature by 16.3%, wind speed by 36.1% and an increase in relative humidity by 27.1% at this coastal location. Along with the reduction in solar radiation, the concentration of surface O₃ (61.5%) and total column O₃ (11.8%) have been observed to decrease at the maximum phase of solar eclipse. CO and NO₂ concentration were found to be increased by 28.9% and 42.2%, respectively, while NO exhibited its typical diurnal variation. Further, a decrease in concentrations of SO₂ by 17.6%, PM₁₀ by 18.5%, and PM_2.5 by 11.3% were observed. NH₃ and BTEX were found to be higher than 11.3% and 22.6% of the concentrations in control days. All of these deviated parameters could be seen returning to their normal state after completing the eclipse episode. The variation of photodissociation coefficient j(NO₂) values were theoretically calculated from the observed data, which shows a good agreement with the model simulated j(NO₂) reduction. This is an extensive second observation on the variation of trace pollutants on solar eclipse, after the partial solar eclipse observed on 15 January 2010 at Kannur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]