Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 7 6 2007 10.5194/acpd-7-17663-2007 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/17663/2007/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/17663/2007/acpd-7-17663-2007.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/17663/2007/acpd-7-17663-2007.pdf 17663 17704 2007-12-10 The Total Solar Eclipse of March 2006: overview E. Gerasopoulos egera@meteo.noa.gr C. S. Zerefos I. Tsagouri D. Founda V. Amiridis A. F. Bais A. Belehaki N. Christou G. Economou M. Kanakidou A. Karamanos M. Petrakis P. Zanis National Observatory of Athens, V. Pavlou and I. Metaxa, P. Penteli, 15236, Athens, Greece Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Physics Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Athens, Greece Laboratory of Agronomy, Faculty of Plant Production, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens Greece University of Crete, Chemistry Department, Environmental and Chemical Processes Laboratory, Crete, Greece Department of Meteorology and Climatology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece This paper provides an overview of integrated, multi-disciplinary effort to study the effects of a total solar eclipse on the environment, with special focus on the atmosphere. On the occasion of the 29 March 2006 total solar eclipse, visible over the Eastern Mediterranean, several research and academic institutes organised co-ordinated experimental campaigns, at different distances from the totality and in various environments in terms of air quality. 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