Description

Abstract

This record documents the Stage 3 Public Audio Data Sharing and Open Archiving workflows developed by the Eclipse Soundscapes (ES) project to support transparent, reproducible, privacy-aware, and long-term open-data dissemination of large-scale volunteer-collected eclipse audio datasets. ES distributed AudioMoth devices during the 2023 annular and 2024 total solar eclipses to investigate how rapid eclipse-related light changes influence animal behavior and environmental soundscapes.

Stage 3 focused on transforming validated site-level audio datasets into publicly archived, DOI-assigned research records published through the Eclipse Soundscapes Zenodo Community. This included standardized dataset packaging, metadata generation, integrity verification, README creation, DOI assignment, and automated Zenodo publication workflows using the Automated Zenodo Upload Software (AZUS).

Audio files and metadata were organized into site-level records associated with ES ID numbers to preserve dataset traceability while separating participant identity from publicly shared scientific data. By documenting the open-science workflows, archival structure, and publication infrastructure used to disseminate Eclipse Soundscapes datasets, this record supports long-term transparency, reproducibility, citation, and scientific reuse of large-scale participant-generated datasets.

Methods

This record documents the Stage 3 public audio data sharing and open archiving workflows developed by the Eclipse Soundscapes (ES) project to support long-term preservation, public access, and scientific reuse of large-scale volunteer-collected eclipse soundscape datasets. The included workflow diagram (“Eclipse Soundscapes Data Process Workflow”) provides a visual overview of the complete ES data lifecycle (Stages 0–4), while this record documents specifically the workflows used to package, validate, publish, and preserve publicly accessible Eclipse Soundscapes datasets.

Stage 3 focused on transforming validated site-level datasets into publicly archived, DOI-assigned research records organized through the Eclipse Soundscapes Zenodo Community. The workflows described in this record were designed to support standardized metadata organization, dataset traceability, integrity verification, scalable repository publication, and long-term open-science stewardship while maintaining separation between participant identity and publicly released scientific data.

Stage 3 workflows included:

• standardized packaging of validated site-level datasets into archival ZIP structures
• metadata standardization and README generation
• DOI assignment through Zenodo and DataCite
• integrity verification using SHA-512 hashes
• automated batch publication using the Automated Zenodo Upload Software (AZUS)
• organization of public datasets through the Eclipse Soundscapes Zenodo Community
• upload validation, metadata verification, and publication review workflows
• development of scalable open-science infrastructure supporting long-term public reuse

These workflows established the long-term open-science infrastructure used to preserve, organize, publish, and disseminate Eclipse Soundscapes datasets for future scientific, educational, and public reuse.

Technical info

The following section documents the relationship of this record to the full Eclipse Soundscapes (ES) data lifecycle, a multi-stage workflow designed to support large-scale participatory science, long-term data stewardship, open science, and scientific reuse. Each stage addressed a different operational need, beginning before eclipse deployment and continuing through validation, public archiving, and scientific analysis. Together, these stages transformed distributed volunteer-submitted audio recordings into structured, documented, publicly accessible NASA-funded research assets.

Stage 0: Pre-Eclipse Infrastructure and Deployment Preparation

Severino, M., & Winter, H. (2026). Eclipse Soundscapes Data Management: Pre-Eclipse Infrastructure and Deployment Preparation (Stage 0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20413370

Stage 0 focused on building the operational foundation required to support geographically distributed eclipse data collection at national scale. This stage included AudioMoth device preparation, accessibility modifications, ES ID # assignment systems, metadata collection workflows, participant training materials, deployment logistics, and planning for downstream data stewardship and archival workflows. The 2023 annular eclipse served as both a scientific investigation and a large-scale operational beta test that informed improvements for the 2024 total solar eclipse campaign.

Related Citations and Resources:

• Severino, M., Winter, H., & Bauer, D. J. Eclipse Soundscapes Apprentice Role Training and Learning Manual (2023–2024). Zenodo.
• Severino, M., Winter, H., & Bauer, D. J. Eclipse Soundscapes Observer Role Training and Resources Manual (2023–2024). Zenodo.
• Severino, M., Winter, H., & Bauer, D. J. Eclipse Soundscapes Data Collector Role Training and Implementation Manual (2023–2024). Zenodo.

Stage 1: Receipt, Sorting, and Metadata Organization

Severino, M., & Winter, H. (2026). Eclipse Soundscapes Data Management: Receipt, Sorting, and Metadata Organization (Stage 1). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19471425

Stage 1 transformed returned participant materials into organized, traceable site-level records. This included receiving mailed microSD cards, consolidating participant-submitted metadata, reconciling handwritten and online records, organizing physical audio media by ES ID #, and deriving eclipse timing and coverage information using NASA eclipse prediction datasets. The outputs of Stage 1 established the structured metadata relationships required for downstream validation, processing, archiving, and analysis workflows.

Related Citations and Resources:

• Winter, H., & Goncalves, J. (2026). EPTT (Eclipse Phase Timing Tool) [Computer software]. GitHub. https://github.com/ARISA-Lab-LLC/ESCSP-Eclipse-Phase-Timing-Tool
• Espenak, F. (n.d.). Eclipse predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA’s GSFC Eclipse Web Site. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html

Stage 2: Data Processing and Validation

Severino, M., & Winter, H. (2026). Eclipse Soundscapes Data Management: Data Processing (Stage 2). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18683402

Stage 2 focused on centralized audio ingestion, validation, timestamp verification, metadata reconciliation, and preparation of datasets for analysis and public sharing. During this stage, returned audio recordings were processed using custom open-source tools developed by the ES team, including ES WAVES and ES AMES. The project implemented scalable infrastructure capable of processing large volumes of participant-submitted microSD cards while preserving all raw audio data without modification. Stage 2 established the validated dataset structure required for long-term preservation and scientific analysis.

Related Citations and Resources:

• Winter, H., & Goncalves, J. (2026). ES WAVES (Eclipse Soundscapes WAV Audio Validation & Extraction Suite) [Computer software]. GitHub. https://github.com/ARISA-Lab-LLC/ESCSP-ES-WAV-Audio-Validation-Extraction-Suite
• Winter, H., & Goncalves, J. (2026). ES AMES (Eclipse Soundscapes AudioMoth Metadata Extractor Suite) [Computer software]. GitHub. https://github.com/ARISA-Lab-LLC/ESCSP-ES-AMES-AudioMoth-Metadata-Extractor-Suite

Stage 3: Public Data Sharing and Open Archiving

Severino, M., & Winter, H. (2026). Eclipse Soundscapes Data Management: Public Audio Data Sharing (Stage 3). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18683437

Stage 3 transformed validated site-level datasets into publicly archived, DOI-assigned research records published through the Eclipse Soundscapes Zenodo Community. This stage included dataset packaging, metadata standardization, README generation, integrity verification, DOI assignment, and automated repository upload workflows using the Automated Zenodo Upload Software (AZUS). These workflows established the project’s long-term open-science infrastructure and ensured that datasets remained findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable, and citable for future scientific and educational use.

Related Citations and Resources:

• Winter, H., & Goncalves, J. (2026). AZUS (Automated Zenodo Upload Software) [Computer software]. GitHub. https://github.com/ARISA-Lab-LLC/AZUS-Automated-Zenodo-Upload-Software

Stage 4: Scientific Analysis and Research Use

Stage 4 involves the scientific analysis and interpretation of validated eclipse soundscape datasets. Analysis workflows utilized datasets verified during earlier stages to investigate eclipse-related environmental and animal vocalization changes across hundreds of recording sites. This stage also includes broader scientific interpretation, publication development, and continued reuse of Eclipse Soundscapes datasets and infrastructure for future research, education, and open-science applications.

Related Citations and Resources:

• Pease, B., Gilbert, N., & Severino, M. (2026). Eclipse Soundscapes Preliminary Findings – How Eclipses Affect Nature as determined by Sound (Recorded Webinar). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18613979
• Gilbert, N. A., Pease, B. S., Severino, M., & Winter, H. III. (2026). Photic niche explains avian behavioral responses to solar eclipses. Ecology and Evolution, 16(2), e73090. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73090
• Analysis code repository: https://github.com/BrentPease1/eclipse-traits
• Companion Zenodo record archiving structured analysis scripts and derived outputs: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15790879

Public Archiving, Privacy, and Data Transparency

The Eclipse Soundscapes Data Collector Role Training and Resources Manual includes a detailed explanation of how Eclipse Soundscapes audio data are publicly archived on Zenodo, how participant privacy is protected through the ES ID system, and how transparency and traceability are maintained. It also outlines the criteria used to determine which recordings are included in the public archive and the distinction between publicly shared archival datasets and datasets used for ES-led scientific analyses.

• Severino, M., & Winter, H. (2026). Eclipse Soundscapes Data Collector Role Training and Implementation Manual (2023–2024). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18623443

Other

General Eclipse Soundscapes Project Information

The Eclipse Soundscapes Project (ES) was a NASA Volunteer Science project funded by NASA Science Activation that studied how solar eclipses affect life on Earth during the October 14, 2023 annular solar eclipse and the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. ES revisited a historic study from the early 1900s demonstrating that animals respond to eclipses and used modern technology and public participation to expand that research.

Eclipse Soundscapes was an enterprise of ARISA Lab, LLC and was supported by NASA award No. 80NSSC21M0008. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in project materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Foundational Historical Reference:

• Wheeler, W. M., et al. (1935). Observations on the Behavior of Animals during the Total Solar Eclipse of August 31, 1932. Carnegie Institution of Washington.