NASA's Eclipse Soundscapes Project is set to gather valuable observations from the public regarding animal behaviors and human reactions during the upcoming solar eclipse. Participants will be asked to provide written multisensory reports detailing what they saw, heard, or felt during the eclipse, as well as audio recordings of the environment at that time.
According to the communications coordinator for the Eclipse Soundscapes Project, total solar eclipses are rare occurrences that offer scientists a unique opportunity to study behavioral responses to this natural phenomenon. The project has already attracted nearly 2,500 volunteers, with the coordinator emphasizing the importance of a large and diverse dataset to better understand the impact of solar eclipses on life on Earth.
Of particular interest to NASA researchers is the study of crickets and other vocal nocturnal insects during the eclipse. They aim to determine whether these insects will alter their behavior, such as chirping, as the moon obscures the sun.
Participation Details
The Eclipse Soundscapes Project is open to all volunteer participants, including individuals who are blind or have low vision. The project emphasizes that one does not need to have animals in sight to make valuable observations, as listening to the soundscape is equally important during the eclipse.
The project is being led by a professor of forestry and natural resources at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, who also serves as the director for the Center for Global Soundscapes.
