scholarly journals Daytime E region field‐aligned irregularities observed during a solar eclipse

Author(s):  
Gang Chen ◽  
Chen Wu ◽  
Zhengyu Zhao ◽  
Dingkun Zhong ◽  
Hao Qi ◽  
...  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 392
Author(s):  
Lei Qiao ◽  
Gang Chen ◽  
Wanlin Gong ◽  
Xuesi Cai ◽  
Erxiao Liu ◽  
...  

The Wuhan Ionospheric Oblique Backscatter Sounding System (WIOBSS) was applied as a bistatic radar to record the ionospheric E-region responses to a solar eclipse on 22 July 2009. The transmitter was located in Wuhan and the receiver was located in Huaian. The receiver observed anomalous echoes with larger Doppler shifts at the farther ranges compared with the echoes reflected by Es. According to the simulated ray propagation paths of the reflected and scattered waves, we considered that the anomalous echoes were scattered by E-region field-aligned irregularities (FAIs). The locations of the FAIs recorded by the WIOBSS were estimated with the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) and the observed propagation parameters. These irregularities occurred at around the eclipse maximum and lasted for ~20–40 min. The steep plasma density gradient induced by the fast drop photo ionization under the lunar shadow was beneficial to the occurrence of gradient drift instability to generate the FAIs. They were different from the gravity wave-induced irregularities occurring in the recovery phase of the solar eclipse.


2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 1977-1985 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sridharan ◽  
C. V. Devasia ◽  
N. Jyoti ◽  
Diwakar Tiwari ◽  
K. S. Viswanathan ◽  
...  

Abstract. The effects on the electrodynamics of the equatorial E- and F-regions of the ionosphere, due to the occurrence of the solar eclipse during sunset hours on 11 August 1999, were investigated in a unique observational campaign involving ground based ionosondes, VHF and HF radars from the equatorial location of Trivandrum (8.5° N; 77° E; dip lat. 0.5° N), India. The study revealed the nature of changes brought about by the eclipse in the evening time E- and F-regions in terms of (i) the sudden intensification of a weak blanketing ES-layer and the associated large enhancement of the VHF backscattered returns, (ii) significant increase in h' F immediately following the eclipse and (iii) distinctly different spatial and temporal structures in the spread-F irregularity drift velocities as observed by the HF radar. The significantly large enhancement of the backscattered returns from the E-region coincident with the onset of the eclipse is attributed to the generation of steep electron density gradients associated with the blanketing ES , possibly triggered by the eclipse phenomena. The increase in F-region base height immediately after the eclipse is explained as due to the reduction in the conductivity of the conjugate E-region in the path of totality connected to the F-region over the equator along the magnetic field lines, and this, with the peculiar local and regional conditions, seems to have reduced the E-region loading of the F-region dynamo, resulting in a larger post sunset F-region height (h' F) rise. These aspects of E-and F-region behaviour on the eclipse day are discussed in relation to those observed on the control day.Key words. Ionosphere (electric fields and currents; equatorial ionosphere; ionospheric irregularities)


2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 773-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Patra ◽  
S. Sripathi ◽  
P. B. Rao ◽  
K. S. V. Subbarao

Abstract. The first results of simultaneous observations made on the low-latitude field-aligned irregularities (FAI) using the MST radar located at Gadanki (13.5° N, 79.2° E, dip 12.5°) and the Es parameters using an ionosonde at a nearby station Sriharikota (13.7° N, 80.1° E, dip 12.6°) are presented. The observations show that while the height of the most intense radar echoes is below the virtual height of Es (h'Es) during daytime, it is found to be either below or above during nighttime. The strength of the FAI is better correlated with the top penetration frequency (ftEs) and the blanketing frequency (fbEs) during the night (r=0.4 in both cases) as compared to the day (r=0.35 and -0.04, respectively). Furthermore, the signal strength of FAI is reasonably correlated with (ftEs-fbEs) during daytime (r=0.59) while very poorly correlated during nighttime (r=0.18). While the radar observations in general appear to have characteristics close to that of mid-latitudes, the relationship of these with the Es parameters are poorer than that of mid-latitudes. The observations reported here, nevertheless, are quite consistent with the expectations based on the gradient drift instability mechanism.


1948 ◽  
Vol 26a (3) ◽  
pp. 137-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. W. McLeish

The results are presented of ionosphere measurements made in the region of totality during the eclipse of July 9, 1945. An analysis of the results shows effective recombination coefficients of 1.6 × 10−8 for E region, 1.4 × 10−8 for F1 region, and 1.0 × 10−9 for F2 region. Evidence of a variable coefficient for E region agrees with the suggestion of Massey and others of a high negative ion density at this level.


2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1865-1876 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. V. Phanikumar ◽  
A. K. Patra ◽  
C. V. Devasia ◽  
G. Yellaiah

Abstract. In this paper, we present seasonal variation of E region field-aligned irregularities (FAIs) observed using the Gadanki radar and compare them with the seasonal variation of Es observed from a nearby location SHAR. During daytime, FAIs occur maximum in summer and throughout the day, as compared to other seasons. During nighttime, FAIs occur equally in both summer and winter, and relatively less in equinoxes. Seasonal variations of Es (i.e. ftEs and fbEs) show that the daytime activity is maximum in summer and the nighttime activity is maximum in equinoxes. No relation is found between FAIs occurrence/SNR and ftEs/fbEs. FAIs occurrence, however, is found to be related well with (ftEs−fbEs). This aspect is discussed in the light of the present understanding of the mid-latitude Es-FAIs relationship. The seasonal variations of FAIs observed at Gadanki are compared in detail with those of Piura, which show a significant difference in the daytime observations. The observed difference has been discussed considering the factors governing the generation of FAIs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 1431-1437 ◽  
Author(s):  
HaiYong Xie ◽  
GuoZhu Li ◽  
BaiQi Ning ◽  
Iain Reid ◽  
LianHuan Hu ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Le ◽  
L. Liu ◽  
X. Yue ◽  
W. Wan

Abstract. A total eclipse occurred on 11 August 1999 with its path of totality passing over central Europe in the latitude range 40°–50° N. The ionospheric responses to this eclipse were measured by a wide ionosonde network. On the basis of the measurements of foE, foF1, and foF2 at sixteen ionosonde stations in Europe, we statistically analyze the variations of these parameters with a function of eclipse magnitude. To model the eclipse effects more accurately, a revised eclipse factor, FR, is constructed to describe the variations of solar radiation during the solar eclipse. Then we simulate the effect of this eclipse on the ionosphere with a mid- and low-latitude ionosphere theoretical model by using the revised eclipse factor during this eclipse. Simulations are highly consistent with the observations for the response in the E-region and F1-region. Both of them show that the maximum response of the mid-latitude ionosphere to the eclipse is found in the F1-region. Except the obvious ionospheric response at low altitudes below 500 km, calculations show that there is also a small response at high altitudes up to about 2000 km. In addition, calculations show that when the eclipse takes place in the Northern Hemisphere, a small ionospheric disturbance also appeared in the conjugate hemisphere.


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