What Impact Does an Eclipse Have on Soil?

A  total solar eclipse is occurring on April 8th, 2024. While millions of people across the globe are looking to the skies to witness/capture this amazing celestial event, it is interesting to consider: how does a solar eclipse impact nature? Specifically, how does a total solar eclipse impact animals, plants and even soil? There are interesting studies showing that once an eclipse reaches 75% totality, bees will return to their hives, farm animals will head back to their barn, and birds will start to flock together as if getting ready for nighttime to begin. A study from the University Missouri-Columbia has also shown that plants will respond to the decreased sunlight by either closing up or following the sun along its path. 

When it comes to how solar eclipses impact soil biology/soil health, there does not seem to be a study examining exactly how solar eclipses impact the organisms contained within the soil. There is a study via Science Daily featuring the astonishing complexity of soil bacterial circadian clocks. This study showed that soil bacteria have internal clocks that synchronize their activities with the 24-hour cycles of day and night on Earth. New research shows just how complex and sophisticated these bacterial circadian clocks are, clearing the way for an exciting new phase of study. Maybe by the next total solar eclipse, August 23, 2044, there will be more to learn about a solar eclipse’s impact on our soil!