Eclipse Soundscapes 2024 Observer Role Data: Qualitative Observation Data Collected During the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024

Dataset Overview (2024)

This dataset contains qualitative multisensory observation data collected by volunteer scientists who served as ES Observers in the Eclipse Soundscapes project during the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. Observations were submitted using a structured online survey developed by the Eclipse Soundscapes team and administered via the Qualtrics platform. Volunteer scientists recorded what they heard, saw, felt, and otherwise perceived during a minimum window of ten minutes before eclipse maximum, during eclipse maximum (totality, lasting up to several minutes depending on location), and ten minutes after eclipse maximum. For observers outside the path of totality, eclipse maximum was defined as the time of greatest solar coverage.

Observers were encouraged to take notes offline during the eclipse and enter their observations in the weeks following the event. The released datasets include cleaned, deidentified observation responses, open-ended notes, and participant-entered geographic information, provided in CSV and XLSX formats. Survey fields related to participant identity, contact information, demographics, certificates, and program evaluation were removed prior to release. The full ES Observer survey instrument and documentation of data cleaning and deidentification procedures are included to support transparency and reuse.

This dataset complements instrumental soundscape recordings and supports qualitative and mixed-methods research on how total solar eclipses are experienced across diverse environments and sensory modalities.

Description

What this record contains

This Zenodo record includes multisensory observation data collected by volunteer scientists who participated in the Eclipse Soundscapes project as ES Observers during the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. The data were collected using a structured online survey developed by the Eclipse Soundscapes team and administered through the Qualtrics platform.

This record includes:

• The full ES Observer survey instrument
• Cleaned observation datasets in CSV and XLSX formats
• Documentation describing data cleaning and deidentification procedures
• An archived compilation of the Eclipse Soundscapes Observer Role Training and Resources Manual (2023–2024)

ES Observer Training and Preparation Materials

ES Observers received role training and preparation materials through multiple channels in the months prior to the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse, including the Eclipse Soundscapes website, live and recorded training webinars, and time-relevant reminder emails distributed before and around eclipse day.

All training content delivered through these channels drew from the same core guidance and resources and was publicly available to participants during the 2024 eclipse period. For long-term preservation and reuse, this web-, webinar-, and email-based guidance was compiled after the eclipse into the Eclipse Soundscapes Observer Role Training and Resources Manual (2023–2024). The manual is included in this record and is also available as a standalone Zenodo record for independent citation and reuse (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18633602).

The archived training materials document:

• The ES Observer role, expectations, and participation requirements
• How eclipse maximum was defined for total and partial eclipse observers
• Solar eclipse safety guidance aligned with NASA, AAS, NOAA, and NSF recommendations
• Multisensory observation practices encouraged for qualitative data collection
• Procedures for recording observation timing and participant-entered geographic coordinates
• Field notes templates and submission guidance used during the 2024 eclipse

Including this compiled training documentation supports transparency and interpretability by allowing secondary users to understand how ES Observers were prepared, what observation practices were encouraged, and how qualitative observations were contextualized at the time of data collection.

Observation focus and timing

ES Observers documented what they experienced during the eclipse using multiple senses, including what they heard, saw, felt, smelled, or otherwise noticed in their surroundings. Observations focused on environmental and behavioral changes occurring around eclipse maximum.

Volunteer scientists were instructed to observe during:

• Ten minutes before eclipse maximum
• Eclipse maximum
• Ten minutes after eclipse maximum

Eclipse maximum was defined as:

• Totality for observers within the path of totality
• The time of greatest solar coverage for observers outside the path

Observation process

To support presence during the eclipse event itself:

• Observers were encouraged to take notes on paper or offline while observing
• Observations were entered into the online survey in the weeks following the eclipse

This approach minimized screen use during the eclipse while supporting thoughtful reflection and detailed reporting.

Data included in the released datasets

The released datasets contain:

• Observation-related survey question text
• Volunteer scientist responses
• Open-ended ES Observer notes
• Participant-entered latitude and longitude

Geographic information was self-reported by volunteer scientists and entered either directly by the observer or with assistance from an adult, following survey guidance. ZIP codes were included for program evaluation purposes and were cleaned to preserve correct formatting (e.g., leading zeros). No participant names are included in the released datasets.

Data not included in the released datasets

While the full ES Observer survey instrument is included for transparency, the following fields were removed prior to public release:

• Participant identity and contact information
• Demographic characteristics
• Certificate-related fields
• Program evaluation responses
• SciStarter credit–related fields