Tracking the Ionospheric Response to the Solar Eclipse of November 03, 2013

Emirant Bertillas Amabayo,Edward Jurua,Simon Katrini Anguma

doi:10.1155/2014/127859

Abstract

The ionospheric dynamics is highly influenced by the solar radiation. During a solar eclipse, the moon occults the solar radiation from reaching the ionosphere, which may drastically affect the variability of the ionosphere. The variability of total electron content (TEC) observed by dual frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers has made it possible to study effects of solar eclipse on the ionosphere. Total eclipse occurred on November 03, 2013, and the maximum amplitude was visible at Owiny in northern Uganda. Ionospheric behavior during this eclipse was analysed by using TEC data archived at Mbarara (MBAR), Malindi (MAL2), Eldoret (MOIU), and Kigali University (NURK) International GPS Satellite (IGS) stations. TEC variations of four consecutive days were used to study instantaneous changes of TEC during the eclipse event. The results generally show TEC decrease at the four stations. However, a maximum perturbation amplitude of ≥20 TECU was observed at MAL2 (18:00–20:00 UT) which is further south of the equator than the other stations. TEC enhancement and depletion were observed during the totality of the eclipse at MOIU, MBAR, NURK, and MAL2 (13:00–15:00 UT). This study found out that the ionospheric TEC over East Africa was modified by wave-like energy and momentum transport and obscuration of the solar disc due to the total solar eclipse.

Highlights

Solar eclipse occurred on November 03, 2013, and this was observed in different parts of the world
The derived vertical TEC (VTEC) showed a significant reduction with a maximum of ≤35 TECU in Figure 3(b) between 17:00 and 19:00 UT
The total electron content (TEC) observed along the ray path between pseudorandom number (PRN) 20 and the Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers at MOIU, MBAR, and NURK shows significant depletions between 17:00 and 20:00 UT (Figure 5(a))

Summary

Introduction

Solar eclipse occurred on November 03, 2013, and this was observed in different parts of the world. FoEs increases because of the decrease in solar radiation and does not result in a reduction in the electron concentration in Es; instead, the electron concentration increases This is due to the fact that the meridional air flow accelerates the ionized clouds in Es layer to form the wind shear. This wind shear that induces the intensification in the Es layer [3, 4, 14] and increases the foEs during solar eclipse events [2] In this current study, the ionospheric response to the solar eclipse of November 3, 2013, was investigated using TEC data as measured at four GPS receiver stations in Uganda (MBAR), Kenya (MAL2 and MOIU), and Rwanda (NURK). The duration of the total solar eclipse at Owiny (2.56∘N, 31.42∘E) was 22.3 seconds

Data Sources and Processing

Results

Conclusion