NASA-Funded Eclipse Balloon Project to Study Iceland’s Atmosphere

Scientists funded by NASA will use Iceland’s total solar eclipse in August 2026 to investigate how the atmosphere responds when daylight briefly disappears. According to a recent press release, research teams from the University of Idaho and the University of Kentucky plan to launch a series of weather balloons from a site near Reykjavík before, during and after the eclipse. What's the Story? NASA-funded teams from the University of Idaho and University of Kentucky at launch sites near Reykjavík Weather balloons and radiosondes during the total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 Atmospheric changes, boundary layer behaviour and gravity waves during and around totality Eclipse Science Mission The project forms part of the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project , which studies atmospheric changes during solar eclipses. The researchers will focus on the planetary boundary layer, the lowest section of the atmosphere, which is directly influenced by conditions at the Earth’s surface. According to lead scientist Dr Matt Bernards of the University of Idaho, the team hopes to better understand how rapidly atmospheric conditions change when solar heating is temporarily removed. “In the 2024 eclipse, our focus was on detecting atmospheric gravity waves—the pressure wave in the atmosphere generated by the eclipse. This time around, we’re going to focus more on how the planetary boundary layer evolves during the eclipse,” said Bernards. The campaign is expected to run continuously for around 30 hours, with balloon launches taking place every half hour during key observation periods. Each balloon will carry a radiosonde, a standard meteorological instrument used worldwide for weather forecasting. Scientists believe Iceland offers a particularly valuable opportunity because totality will occur late in the afternoon, close to the atmosphere’s normal transition towards evening conditions. The launch site has not yet been finalised, although teams expect to operate south of Reykjavík and outside restricted airspace near Keflavík Airport . Researchers say members of the public will be welcome to observe the launches once the location is confirmed. For readers planning to experience the eclipse, Iceland Review has also published coverage of the upcoming 2026 total solar eclipse in Iceland. The post NASA-Funded Eclipse Balloon Project to Study Iceland’s Atmosphere appeared first on Iceland Review .