Delayed effects of annular solar eclipse of 15 January 2010 on the tropospheric and lower stratospheric winds along the eclipse path

Abstract

The annular solar eclipse of 15th January 2010, which was the longest solar eclipse of the millennia, was visible at several parts of South India and China. A host of experiments were carried out at Thumba (8.5° N, 76.9°E) and Gadanki (13.51° N, 79.21° E) in India to study the effect of annular solar eclipse on various atmospheric processes taking place right from surface layer to Ionosphere as the maximum obscuration of the Sun took place during the peak noon hours. Many of the studies reported from these experiments focused on the effect of annular solar eclipse on the geophysical parameters and their variability during the maximum phase of the eclipse. However, there were no efforts to study the delayed effects of the annular solar eclipse on the geophysical parameters. In this regard, the present study discuss the delayed effect (~4hours after the maximum phase of the eclipse) of annular solar eclipse of 15th January 2010 on the troposphere and lower stratosphere winds over the eight geographical locations along the eclipse path [Thumba, Qingdao (36.06° N, 120.33°E), Zhengzhoes (34.71° N, 113.65°E), Enshi (30.28° N, 109.46°E), Chongqing (29.51° N, 106.48°E), Sheyang (33.76° N, 120.25°E), Fuyang (32.86° N, 115.73°E) and Weining (26.86° N, 104.28°E)]. The regular meteorological soundings over these eight locations at 12 UTC are utilized for the present study. The important difference between the observations over Thumba and other latitudes is the local time of occurrence of maximum phase of the eclipse. Over the Thumba the maximum phase of the annular eclipse observed in the mid-day whereas it is observed during the sunset hours over other latitudes. The analysis revealed that significant changes in zonal and meridional winds occurred only over Thumba, but not showed any significant changes over the other latitudes. The results are discussed in the light of present understanding of the eclipse induced atmospheric perturbations.