We present an analysis of the gravity wave structure and the associated forcing of the middle atmosphere induced by the screening of the ozone layer from solar heating during a solar eclipse. Fourier integral techniques and numerical evaluation of the integral solutions were used to assess the wave field structure and to compute the gravity wave forcing of the atmospheric at greater heights. Our solutions reveal dominant periods of a few hours, characteristic horizontal and vertical scales of ~5000 to 10,000 km and 200 km, respectively, and an integrated momentum flux in the direction of eclipse motion of ~5.6¿108 N at each height above the forcing level. These results suggest that response to solar eclipses may be difficult to detect above background gravity wave and tidal fluctuations until well into the thermosphere. Conversely, the induced body forces may penetrate to considerable heights because of the large wave scales and will have significant effects at levels where the wave field is dissipated. ¿American Geophysical Union 1993