Solar irradiance and total ozone over El Arenosillo (Spain) during the solar eclipse of 3 October 2005

The ground track of the annular eclipse of 3 October 2005 crossed the Iberian Peninsula. The main objective of this work was to analyze the variability of the solar irradiance and the total ozone column during the course of this event at El Arenosillo (Southwestern Spain). For achieving this goal, two Kipp & Zonen broadband radiometers (one for measuring total solar irradiance and other for measuring ultraviolet erythemal solar irradiance), one NILU-UV multi-band instrument and one Brewer spectroradiometer were used in this work. Total irradiance (310–2800 nm), and ultraviolet erythemal radiation (UVER) were recorded at a high frequency of 5 s, showing a strong reduction (higher than 80%) of the irradiance at the maximum solar obscuration which was of 79.6%. The irradiance decrease during the course of the eclipse was positively correlated with the percentage of eclipse obscuration, showing a very high agreement (R²～0.99). The irradiance recorded at selected wavelengths from the NILU-UV instrument shows a more pronounced decrease in the UV irradiance at the lower wavelengths during the solar eclipse. Finally, the evolution of the total ozone column (TOC) derived from Brewer and NILU instruments during the eclipse presented an opposite behavior: while the Brewer derived TOC values increase about 15 DU, the NILU derived TOC values decrease about 11 DU. This opposite behavior is mainly related to an artifact in the spectral irradiances recorded by the two instruments.     

2009年7月22日日全食引起的电离层扰动及其对定位的影响

2009年7月22日发生在亚太地区的日全食,从北半球中纬地区一直延伸到南半球中纬地区.这次日食期间发生的磁暴和日食时间同步,使得电离层变化较为复杂.为了分析日食期间电离层扰动及其对定位的影响,所采用的GPS数据来源于日全食带内的重庆CORS网(4个站)、武汉CORS网(8个站)数据、IGS站WUHN、SHAO的数据,以及日偏食区域内不同纬度处的若干IGS站.通过比较日食前后连续三天的各个地方TEC变化,以及利用高采样率的CORS网数据研究日食期间TEC的瞬时变化,根据位置和时间的不同,各地日食期间TEC下降约(1~4)TECU.但是,磁暴期间TEC的响应整体表现为正相暴,偏离值达50%以上,且和日食食甚后的TEC变化相重合.同时,求解了日食期间伪距单点定位的实时精度和CORS网内中短基线的实时精度,伪距单点定位的平面精度变化不显著,高程精度下降达数十米,日食初期CORS网中基线的平面精度仍在厘米级内,高程精度仍在分米级内,但是,日食后期发生的磁暴导致基线的平面精度下降到分米级,高程精度下降到米级.     

Ionospheric effects of the March 29, 2006, solar eclipse over Kazakhstan

The results of studying the ionospheric effects of the March 29, 2006, solar eclipse are presented. The results were obtained in measurements of local electron density (ED) at Alma-Ata vertical ionospheric sounding station and total electron content (TEC) at the Central Asia network of two-frequency receivers of the GPS navigation system. The ED decrease at the F-layer maximum reached approximately 28%, the delay of the minimum value of EC relative to the moment of the eclipse maximum phase was about 11 min, the relaxation time was 4 min, and the duration of the EC depression at the 0.5 level was 45 min. Dynamic interlayer formations were observed in the ionosphere near the eclipse maximum phase. A traveling ionospheric disturbance, probably generated at the shock wave front during the supersonic motion of the Moon’s shadow, was detected. The disturbance period and the horizontal projection of the velocity were about 90 min and ～680 m/s, respectively. The wave vector azimuth (145°) coincides with the model value of the normal to the shock front.     

2009年7月22日日全食期间湖北沙洋地区电离层扰动分析

发生在2009年7月22日亚太地区的日全食,为人们研究电离层扰动提供了一次难得的机会.基于沙洋地区采集的高频(1 Hz)GPS数据,通过对日食当天与前后几天电离层VTEC(Vertical Total Electron Content)的变化分析,结果显示日食期间电离层VTEC含量均呈现出一种先下降再上升的“水槽”变化趋势,且VTEC下降达到2～5 TECU,下降幅度达33.1％,VTEC的最小值与食甚时刻延迟为25.2～147.6 s.在日全食后期有中等强度的磁暴发生,与日食相互重合叠加共同对电离层VTEC变化造成影响,使得VTEC变化明显异于前后几天,最后定量的分析了磁暴对VTEC的影响.     

Ionospheric variability over Grocka during low solar activity conditions

The variability of the critical frequency of F2 layer, foF2, over ionospheric station Grocka (44.48N, 20.31E) has been studied during the declining phase of solar cycle 23 from 2004 to 2006. The variability index was introduced to identify the daily and seasonal patterns characterizing the local mid-latitude ionosphere during quiet and disturbed geomagnetic conditions. In addition, the behaviour of the vertical total electron content values, vTEC, obtained from global positioning system (GPS) measurements in the surrounding area under these conditions is reported. The analysis shows a number of interesting features representative of the ionospheric variability relevant for ionospheric modelling as well as ionospheric propagation applications based on a single station approach.     

Ionospheric total electron content and critical frequencies over Europe at solar minimum

The paper presents results obtained by analyzing high-resolution ionospheric vertical total electron content (vTEC) data set evaluated from a chain of European ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS) stations and its equivalent slab thickness, as well as the F2-layer critical frequency foF2 and propagation factor M(3000)F2 from nearby ionosonde stations over the period 2006–2007. The study covers data within an area between 36°N and 68°N geographic latitude, and 7°W and 21°E geographic longitude during these last two years of minimum solar activity in the 23rd solar cycle. It reveals 15 extraordinary events, all of which exhibited some form of large short-lived vTEC and foF2 enhancements of the duration of small-magnitude solar-terrestrial events. The results clearly show a well-defined vTEC and foF2 storm-like disturbance patterns developed under these conditions. They prove that there are still some open questions related to the large electron density variations during weak disturbances that require additional study for both their relevance to different Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) applications and their role in the formation and evolution of the daytime ionosphere at middle latitudes.     

The ionosphere over Genova during the solar eclipse of February 15, 1961

Summary The behaviour of the ionosphere over Genova during the solar eclipse of February 15, 1961 is investigated. For theE-layer the effect was very marked, but the value obtained for the recombination coefficient is above normal. The effect of the eclipse was also observed on theF2 layer; however, the behaviour here appears affected by the simultaneous occurrence of an ionospheric perturbation. Finally, the maximum reduction of the ionospheric absorption on 2 and 3 Mc/s during the eclipse was found to be of the order of about 12 db.This report belongs to a set of investigations on geophysical effects of the solar eclipse of February 15th, 1961 carried out by the «Istituto Geofisico, Università di Genova», and made possible through a financial support of the «Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche».     

Testing IR flux during solar eclipse

A Ridgeley, G Grayer, D Mehmet and B Sheen report on a further experiment on IR flux during the solar eclipse in Lusaka, 2001.     

Ionospheric response to the extreme solar burst of October 28, 2003

Using GPS and GLONASS navigation systems, instantaneous observations of solar burst effects on the Earth’s ionosphere are made. These observations are carried out for both Northern and Southern hemispheres, including the ionosphere at polar and equatorial latitudes. It is shown that the rate of total electron content (TEC) change is agrees well with the time profiles of solar bursts. An experimental dependence of the electron content gradient on the elevation angle is obtained.     

Ionospheric and geomagnetic disturbances during the 2005 Sumatran earthquakes

This paper investigates the ionospheric and geomagnetic responses during the 28 March 2005 and 14 May 2005 Sumatran earthquakes using GPS and magnetometer stations located in the near zone of the epicenters. These events occurred during low solar and geomagnetic activity. TEC oscillations with periods of 5–10 min were observed about 10–24 min after the earthquakes and have horizontal propagation velocities of 922–1259 m/s. Ionospheric disturbances were observed at GPS stations located to the northeast of the epicenters, while no significant disturbances were seen relatively east and south of the epicenters. The magnetic field measurements show rapid fluctuations of 4–5 s shortly after the earthquake, followed by a Pc5 pulsation of 4.8 min about 11 min after the event. The correlation between the ionospheric and geomagnetic responses shows a good agreement in the period and time lag of the peak disturbance arrival, i.e. about 11–13 min after the earthquake.     

Shadow bands during the total solar eclipse of 26 February 1998

We have recorded shadow bands just before and just after the total phase of the solar eclipse of 26 February 1998, using four silicon photodiodes on the corners of a square 105 mm side. At two earlier eclipses, 11 July 1991, 3 November 1994, recordings were made using two silicon photodiodes separated by 100 mm. The analyses of these earlier eclipses have already been published in detail, and therefore here we concentrate on the analysis of the recordings made on 26 February 1998. Samples of the time series are presented, along with cross-correlation functions and power spectra. The power spectra are broadly in accord with the shadow band theory of Codona (Codona, C., 1986. The scintillation theory of eclipse shadow bands. Astron. Astrophys. 164, 415–427). This is also the case for the two earlier eclipses, but there are instructive differences between the three occasions.     

The solar corona during the eclipse of August 1, 2008

A new telescope has been created to investigate the solar corona during eclipses. One lens simultaneously forms three corona images occurring as coronal radiation passes through three polarizers with transmission directions rotated 0°, 60°, and 120° relative to the selected direction; in addition, one image is formed without the polarizer. The telescope was used for solar corona observation during the eclipse of August 1, 2008. We obtained the distributions of polarization brightness, K corona brightness, degree of K corona polarization, and total degree of polarization as well as polarization directions depending on the latitude and radius in the sky plane. Radial distributions of the electron density depending on latitude were calculated. The coronal plasma temperature was determined for different corona structures under the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium.     

Large-scale ionospheric gradients over Europe observed in October 2003

It is well known that ionospheric perturbations are characterised by strong horizontal gradients and rapid changes of the ionisation. Thus, space weather induced severe ionosphere perturbations can cause serious technological problems in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS. During the severe ionosphere storm period of 29–31 October 2003, reported were several significant malfunctions due to the adverse effects of the ionosphere perturbations such as interruption of the WAAS service and degradation of mid-latitudes GPS reference services. To properly warn service users of such effects, a quick evaluation of the current signal propagation conditions expressed in a suitable ionospheric perturbation index would be of great benefit. Preliminary results of a comparative study of ionospheric gradients including vertical sounding and Total Electron Content (TEC) data are presented. Strong enhancements of latitudinal gradients and temporal changes of the ionisation are observed over Europe during the 29–30 October storm period. The potential use of spatial gradients and rate of change of foF2 and TEC characterising the actual perturbation degree of the ionosphere is discussed. It has been found that perturbation induced spatial gradients of TEC and foF2 strongly enhance during the ionospheric storm on 29 October over the Central European region in particular in North–South direction exceeding the gradients in East–West direction by a factor of 2.     

Magneto-ionospheric effects of the solar eclipse of March 20, 2015, over Kharkov

The results of observations of disturbances in the lower and middle ionosphere and in the geomagnetic field accompanying the partial solar eclipse over Kharkov are presented. The ionospheric effects have been studied with the use of an ionosonde and measurements of the phase and amplitude of a radio signal with a frequency of 66.(6) kHz on the Moscow–Kharkov route, and the effects in the magnetic field have been analyzed with the help of a magnetometer–fluxmeter in the range of periods from 1 to 1000 s. Disturbances in both the lower and middle ionosphere, as well as in the geomagnetic field, have been detected. The observation results have been compared with the results of a simulation of physical processes accompanying the solar eclipse. A good agreement has been found between observational and modeling results.     

Propagation of radio waves reflected from the ionosphere during a solar eclipse

Summary The article first describes in chronological order the observations on the propagation of radio waves during the solar eclipses, and the development of the conflicting results on the similar transmissions of radio signals. The general theory of the absorption of radio waves in the ionosphere is briefly described and therefrom a method is derived to estimate the variation of the absorption of obliquely incident radio waves during a solar eclipse.The variation of field-strength can be studied in terms of the relationship between the vertical incident equivalent frequency of the signals and the critical frequencies of the ionospheric layers at the regions of reflection. The total absorption of radio waves consists of the non-deviative absorption in theD region and the deviative absorption in the higher layers of the ionosphere. During the eclipse, theD region absorption decreases in phase with the progress of the eclipse, but the variation of deviative absorption may differ in each observation. The deviative absorption is large when the equivalent frequency is close to the critical frequency of the layer reflecting the waves or of the layer just penetrated by the waves. The changes in the deviative absorption during an eclipse can be estimated on the basis of the variation of the critical frequencies of the ionospheric layers. The resultant changes in the total absorption during a solar eclipse may thus be estimated. The different types of field strength variation expected during an eclipse are given.The observations of the vertical incident absorption of radio waves and the field strength variations of obliquely incident continuous wave radio signals during the solar eclipse are described and the changes are explained on the basis of the above theory.     

Numerical modelling of spectral sky radiance during a total solar eclipse

Ground-based observations of the spectral sky radiance within the totality region during a total solar eclipse are of significant interest because the contribution from direct and single scattered light from the solar disk is eliminated. In the present paper, we develop a numerical model of the spectral sky radiance during totality, evaluate the contribution of double scattered sunlight to the sky radiance at totality and compare it to solar corona emissions. The results show that the single scattered coronal light is the major contaminant in ground-based observations of the corona, opposite to what was believed before. For observation directions outside the corona the double scattered sun radiation dominates over the single scattered coronal light.     

Observational effort to record Fresnel patterns during a total solar eclipse

Summary The observation of Fresnel diffraction patterns at 2nd and 3rd contact and efforts to correlate the time elements of a total solar eclipse at low elevation are discussed. The measurements were intended to determine atmospheric refraction at three optical wavelengths. A laboratory model of the system sun-moon-earth was employed for testing the recording instruments at the fast response times that are necessary for such observations.

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Zusammenfassung Diskutiert werden die Vorbereitungen zur Beobachtung von Fresnelschen Beugungsstreifen im Mondschatten, wenn 2. und 3. Kontakt einer Sonnenfisternis in die Sonnenaufgangszone fallen (streifender Lichteinfalt). Bei Kenntnis des Mondrandes kann man die Auswertung der Beugungsfiguren mit den Konjunktionszeiten korrelieren. Vergleiche mit den errechneten Ephemeriden ermöglichen eine Bestimmung der atmosphärischen Refraktion. Ein Modell diente zur Prüfung der Beobachtungsapparaturen.

     

Ionospheric response to the partial solar eclipse of March 29, 2006, according to the observations at Nizhni Novgorod and Murmansk

The results of observations of the solar eclipse ionospheric effects on March 29, 2006, are presented. The observations were conducted using the partial reflection method near Nizhni Novgorod and the vertical sounding method at the automatic ionospheric station near Murmansk. It has been obtained that the electron density at altitudes of 77 and 91 km decreases by a factor of more than 4; in this case the response of the ionosphere at an altitude of 91 km lags behind the eclipse maximum phase on the Earth by approximately 20 min. It has been established that the eclipse in the E and F1 regions of the polar ionosphere causes a change in the electron density by 15–20%. The delay time of this effect varies from 12 to 24 min depending on the altitude. It has been registered that the reflection virtual altitude at altitudes of the ionospheric F region increases in Murmansk and Nizhni Novgorod.     

Observations of VLF atmospherics spectra during the solar eclipse of March 20, 2015

Based on the data obtained by the instruments of the Lovozero high-latitude observatory, the amplitude-frequency characteristics of atmospherics during the solar eclipse of March 20, 2015 were constructed. It was shown that no significant changes (beyond the limits of natural deviation) in the spectra of atmospherics were observed during the eclipse.     

Micrometeorological measurements in Nigeria during the total solar eclipse of 29 March, 2006

The total solar eclipse of 29 March, 2006 which was visible at Ibadan (7.55°N, 4.56°E), south-western Nigeria was utilized to document atmospheric surface-layer effects of the eclipse for the first time in Nigeria. The meteorological parameters measured are global radiation, net radiation, wind speed (at different heights), atmospheric pressure and soil temperature (5, 10 and 30 cm), moisture and heat flux and rainfall. The results revealed remarkable dynamic atmospheric effects. The observations showed that the incoming solar radiation, net radiation and air temperature were significantly affected.There was an upsurge of wind speed just before the first contact of the eclipse followed by a very sharp decrease in wind speed due to the cooling and stabilization of the atmospheric boundary layer. The atmospheric pressure lags the eclipse maximum by 1 h 30 min, while the soil temperature at 5 and 10 cm remain constant during the maximum phase of the eclipse.