Muller-Wodarg, ICF; Aylward, AD; Lockwood, M; (1998) Effects of a mid-latitude solar eclipse on the thermosphere and ionosphere - A modelling study. Geophysical Research Letters , 25 (20) 3787 - 3790. 10.1029/1998GL900045.

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Abstract

A modelling study is presented which investigates in-situ generated changes of the thermosphere and ionosphere during a solar eclipse. Neutral temperatures are expected to drop by up to 40 degrees K at 240 km height in the totality footprint, with neutral winds of up to 26 m/s responding to the change of pressure. Both temperatures and winds are found to respond with a time lag of 30 min after the passing of the Moon's shadow. A gravity wave is generated in the neutral atmosphere and propagates into the opposite hemisphere at around 300 m/s. The combined effects of thermal cooling and downwelling lead to an overall increase in [O], while [N-2] initially rises and then for several hours after the eclipse is below the "steady state" level. An enhancement of [NmF2] is found and explained by the atmosphere's contraction during, and the reduced [O]/[N-2] ratio after the eclipse.

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