Numerical simulation of effects of the August 11, 1999 solar eclipse in the outer ionosphere

Abstract

The results of a numerical simulation of such parameters of the topside ionosphere as concentration N e and temperature T e of electrons, and concentration n(H+) and fluxes along the magnetic field lines Φ(H+) of H+ ions at an altitude of ∼2000 km for the conditions of the August 11, 1999 solar eclipse are presented. The calculations were performed using the Global Self-consistent Model of the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, and Protonosphere of the Earth (GSM TIP). It is shown that during the eclipse, in addition to a region of decreased values of T e in the Northern Hemisphere and in the magnetically conjugate region in the Southern Hemisphere, regions of electron heating emerge in both hemispheres. Simultaneously, an extended region of decreased values of N e comes into existence and moves behind the Moon’s shadow. Regions with decreased (down to ∼30%) and enhanced (up to ∼50%) concentrations of H+ ions are detected in the global distribution of these ions.