THE ECLIPSE IS ALMOST HERE… SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

Yes, today is the day of the much-talked-about solar eclipse. Plenty of people have been holding forth about the positive or negative effects it may have on just about everything… including us.

During those minutes of darkness, day turns into night extraordinarily quickly. Solar radiation drops sharply, the temperature of the air and leaves falls, and relative humidity may increase. Plants respond by reducing photosynthesis and altering the opening of their stomata.

Many parallel and related phenomena will come together during the eclipse on 12 August, but it is particularly interesting for vineyards because it takes place in the middle of summer, close to the final stage of grape ripening.

In the Mediterranean regions of the Iberian Peninsula, it will be fascinating to observe the vines as though they were being subjected to an accelerated sunset.

We could even carry out a small experiment. During the 60–90 minutes before the eclipse, throughout the event itself and for 60–90 minutes afterwards, we could measure and analyse solar/PAR radiation, leaf and grape-cluster temperature, air temperature and relative humidity, stomatal conductance, soil temperature and wind speed.

Besides these measurements, we could add any others we find interesting, such as more detailed monitoring of grape-cluster temperature.

We would see interesting changes in each of these parameters.

As this is a one-off phenomenon, it will not directly affect the quantity, flavour or properties of the grapes, but for the more curious among us, it could be quite an experience.

But it’s not all going to be science. Here in the Penedès, we like to celebrate our land and heritage, so here are a couple of eclipse tales.

It is said that during the last total eclipse visible from Vilafranca del Penedès, back on 30 August 1905, the hens went to sleep, interpreting the lack of light as the arrival of night.

Animals can indeed interpret an eclipse in such a way that it triggers their twilight behaviour. Some birds may stop flying, bees return to the safety of their hive, and livestock head back to their barns.

During the solar eclipse of 13 August 1822 in the Figueres area, people were warned about the physical effects an eclipse might cause, including tingling of the blood, chattering teeth, shining eyes and a frenzy taking possession of the brain… As far as we know, none of that actually happened.

So, properly equipped and wearing the appropriate protection, let’s get ready for the eclipse. We haven’t seen one like this since 1905, and by the time it happens again, we’ll all be bald at the very least.