The phenomenon of an eclipse, be it solar or lunar, has always fascinated humankind. Many have watched an eclipse for its visual experience, but few know that it’s not just a visual event, but an auditory one as well. An eclipse indeed signals a change in our natural environment that is not only observed but also heard. While it may seem bizarre to think about what an eclipse ‘sounds’ like, the impact of this celestial event on acoustic ecology is notable and indeed plays a crucial role in our understanding of the universe.
To begin, understanding the sound of an eclipse requires a rudimentary grasp of acoustic ecology. Acoustic ecology is the relationship, mediated through sound, between living beings and their environment. Encompassing both natural and anthropogenic (human-made) soundscapes, it offers valuable insights into how different environments operate and interact. Among the natural sounds that can be experienced during an eclipse, the most commonly reported changes are in the behaviors of birds and insects.
Birdsong serves as a prime example here. Birds rely heavily on light cues for their daily rhythms. During an eclipse, the unexpected darkness can often trick them into believing that night has fallen. This leads to a noticeable shift in soundscape as the day-active (diurnal) birds cease their song while the night-active (nocturnal) birds begin their calls. Interestingly, even insects like cicadas, who produce some of the most recognizable sounds in many environments, may also be duped by the false night, and their droning songs sometimes come to an abrupt halt.
However, what makes the soundscapes during an eclipse truly unique is the lack of anthropogenic noise, such as the hum of daily human activity. The outdoors goes quiet, with people often stopping their regular activities to watch this unusual event. This reduction in human noise pollution exposes a more ‘raw’ acoustic environment that may display subtle nuances of sound noticed in few other situations.
What does this identity, and why does it matter? The changes in ambient noise during an eclipse can significantly impact animal behavior. Furthermore, understanding these changes can allow scientists to study disruptions in our planet’s daily rhythms and learn more about how creatures have adapted to human-induced environmental changes.
Additionally, these auditory phenomena during an eclipse provide an opportunity for human listeners to expand their scope of experience, offering a unique, multisensory encounter with nature. This encourages a broader awareness and appreciation of our acoustic environment, which may contribute to improved conservation efforts. It reminds us that, like light pollution, noise pollution also impacts the natural world, and encourages human society to strive towards quieter, less disruptive lifestyles.
Finally, listening to an eclipse cannot be restricted to terrestrial observations alone. NASA researchers have been exploring the fascinating and burgeoning field of ‘sonification’ – translating data into sound – and have recently turned their attention to eclipses. They used data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) to generate unique sounds representative of the event, turning an eclipse into a symphony of sounds and offering a new perspective on how we decipher and understand the cosmos.
In conclusion, the acoustic nuances of an eclipse open up a whole new dimension in our understanding and appreciation of these celestial spectacles. These auditory experiences serve as reminders of the interconnected world we live in, where light, sound, and life constantly interact in ways both profound and intricate. Therefore, the importance of what an eclipse ‘sounds’ like extends far beyond a simple curiosity — it offers an entirely different perspective on our place in this continuously unraveling cosmos.
