RADIO OBSERVATIONS ON THE UPPER IONIZED LAYER OF THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE TIME OF THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF AUGUST 31, 1932

Abstract

This report contains the results from one of the three stations set up by the National Research Council of Canada to take observations on radio reflections from the ionized layers in the upper atmosphere during the total solar eclipse of August 31, 1932. The station concerned was located at Kingston, Ontario, and was approximately under the centre of totality for the upper or Appleton layer. Hence observations at this station were limited to the upper layer. The results from the other two stations at Corner Brook, Newfoundland, and at Vankleek Hill, Ontario, are reported in the paper immediately preceding (8).The method was that developed by Breit and Tuve, in which a short pulse is transmitted, the reflection being received and its time delay recorded by means of a cathode ray oscillograph.The results indicate that the ionization of the upper layer is caused by radiation (presumably ultra-violet light) from the sun. Whether or not this is the sole cause is uncertain because of the time lag in recombination of ions in the layer. A reduction in ionization of over 30% was noted.A magnetic storm which occurred a few days before the eclipse made the results more difficult to interpret but gave some information of the effect of such a storm on the upper layer. It appeared to cause considerable instability in the layer and a somewhat lower ion content.