ALADIN/LACE and the eclipse of 11th August 1999

Mark Zagar, Hydrometeorological Institute of Slovenia

It is a well known fact that the total solar eclipse occured on August 11th. In the northeastern part of Slovenia it lasted for 73 seconds at 12h44m local time (10h44m UTC), exactly as it has been forecast. On the other hand the weather situation did not look very promising, at least not until a day before the 11th as an active frontal passage was expected for that day, based on ECMWF forecast. It was leaving only a small chance of a heavenly window, mainly over the western Panonian basin.


The forecast of ALADIN/LACE from 10th, 00 UTC confirmed this option. On the simulated IR satellite image for August 11th, 10 UTC (Fig. 1) with the treshold of approx. 0°C we can clearly see a region of relatively clear sky over the western Panonian basin, the gray band being actually some transparent cirrus cloud (also partially transparent for the outcoming LW radiation, therefore seeming warm).



Comparing the simulated image with the real EUMETSAT shot for the same time (Fig. 2) does not call for any particular explanation. From our point of view this eclipse was a double joy.


 
 


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