The effect of total solar eclipse of October 3, 2005, on the total electron content over Europe

2008 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 628-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Krankowski ◽  
I.I. Shagimuratov ◽  
L.W. Baran ◽  
G.A. Yakimova
2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 1549-1558 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kumar ◽  
A. K. Singh ◽  
R. P. Singh

Abstract. The variability of ionospheric response to the total solar eclipse of 22 July 2009 has been studied analyzing the GPS data recorded at the four Indian low-latitude stations Varanasi (100% obscuration), Kanpur (95% obscuration), Hyderabad (84% obscuration) and Bangalore (72% obscuration). The retrieved ionospheric vertical total electron content (VTEC) shows a significant reduction (reflected by all PRNs (satellites) at all stations) with a maximum of 48% at Varanasi (PRN 14), which decreases to 30% at Bangalore (PRN 14). Data from PRN 31 show a maximum of 54% at Kanpur and 26% at Hyderabad. The maximum decrement in VTEC occurs some time (2–15 min) after the maximum obscuration. The reduction in VTEC compared to the quiet mean VTEC depends on latitude as well as longitude, which also depends on the location of the satellite with respect to the solar eclipse path. The amount of reduction in VTEC decreases as the present obscuration decreases, which is directly related to the electron production by the photoionization process. The analysis of electron density height profile derived from the COSMIC (Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere & Climate) satellite over the Indian region shows significant reduction from 100 km altitude up to 800 km altitude with a maximum of 48% at 360 km altitude. The oscillatory nature in total electron content data at all stations is observed with different wave periods lying between 40 and 120 min, which are attributed to gravity wave effects generated in the lower atmosphere during the total solar eclipse.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (18) ◽  
pp. 4943-4951 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Zerefos ◽  
E. Gerasopoulos ◽  
I. Tsagouri ◽  
B. E. Psiloglou ◽  
A. Belehaki ◽  
...  

Abstract. This study aims at providing experimental evidence, to support the hypothesis according to which the movement of the moon's shadow sweeping the ozone layer at supersonic speed, during a solar eclipse, creates gravity waves in the atmosphere. An experiment was conducted to study eclipse induced thermal fluctuations in the ozone layer (via measurements of total ozone column, ozone photolysis rates and UV irradiance), the ionosphere (Ionosonde Total Electron Content – ITEC, peak electron density height – hmF2), and the troposphere (temperature, relative humidity), before, during and after the total solar eclipse of 29 March 2006. We found the existence of eclipse induced dominant oscillations in the parameters related to the ozone layer and the ionosphere, with periods ranging between 30–40 min. Cross-spectrum analyses resulted to statistically significant square coherences between the observed oscillations, strengthening thermal stratospheric ozone forcing as the main mechanism for GWs. Additional support for a source below the ionosphere was provided by the amplitude of the oscillations in the ionospheric electron density, which increased upwards from 160 to 220 km height. Even though similar oscillations were shown in surface temperature and relative humidity data, no clear evidence for tropospheric influence could be derived from this study, due to the modest amplitude of these waves and the manifold rationale inside the boundary layer.


2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 7603-7624 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Zerefos ◽  
E. Gerasopoulos ◽  
I. Tsagouri ◽  
B. Psiloglou ◽  
A. Belehaki ◽  
...  

Abstract. This study aims at testing the hypothesis according to which the movement of the moon's shadow sweeping the ozone layer at supersonic speed during a solar eclipse creates gravity waves in the atmosphere. An experiment was conducted to study fluctuations of the ozone layer, the Ionosonde Total Electron Content (ITEC) and the peak electron density height (hmF2) in the ionosphere, as well as at a number of other parameters before, during and after the total solar eclipse. We found the existence of dominant oscillations with periods ranging between 30–40 min in most of the parameters. Cross-spectrum analyses between total ozone and various atmospheric parameters resulted to statistically significant square coherences between the observed oscillations, while the respective phase spectra show that the perturbation originates in the stratosphere and reaches the various layers at speeds around 20 km min−1. Additional evidence supporting these findings was provided by the amplitude of the oscillations in the ionospheric electron density, which increased upwards from 160 to 220 km height.


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